In Marin County, Native American Art

One can’t help but think that Frank Lloyd Wright would be pleased on a number of levels.

In a building next to his 770th and last commission – the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael, Calif. – in an exhibit hall credited to Taliesin Architects, the 27th Marin Show: Art of the Americas will run for two days on Feb. 26 and 27.

Widely recognized as the most substantive and extensive ongoing showcase focused on antique American Indian, Pre-Columbian, Spanish Colonial and contemporary American Indian art, the Marin Show: Art of the Americas brings together the most passionate dealers, collectors, artists, and academia from around the world.

The main floor of the show will be dedicated to antique exhibitors from the collecting community, with some exceptional pieces available and on the market this year. One in particular is a 3rd Phase, Classic period Navajo Chief’s Blanket (54″x66″), circa 1860-65, and valued at $80,000.  It’s being presented by gallerist Tyrone B. Campbell.

Contemporary Native American artist Daniel Ramirez will be on site to begin the first six feet of a painting that will eventually grow to be 100 feet long, on one continuous piece of canvas.  He’s calling it the “World’s Longest Native American Painting,” and he’ll be working on it during the show.

“It’s an educational piece so that young people will be able to take a look at the 500 nations,” the Saginaw Chippewa  artist with a  his MFA from the University of Michigan said.  “I want to make people aware of our lives – about what a Native American is, and looks like and is all about.”

Concerned about the lack of awareness regarding Native Americans’ presence across the continent, he aims to create 300 images of women of all ages and relations in the painting to show Native Americans in all 50 of the United States. Women have been a key part of many of Ramirez’s acclaimed works, such as “Women of the Great Lakes” which he presented at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in 2006, and “Caring for Our Elders”, also addressing his artistic interpretations about the concept of Matriarchy in the Native American Community.

All antique and contemporary art exhibitors will be on hand and able to answer questions throughout the weekend about the exhibited art that includes pottery, textiles, sculpture, jewelry, beadwork, baskets, paintings, furniture, and photography.

The show’s Opening Night Preview is Friday, February 25th from 6:30-9:00pm.

For more show, lecture and Opening Night Preview information and tickets: www.marinshow.com.

 

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