Summer Season:
Greyshoes, Melody Monarch, and Adrian Standing Elk Pinnecoose
August in New Mexico is synonymous with Native American art. The 2020 SWAIA’s Indian Market celebrated its 99th event and after a long lockdown, we are all excited to return to the plaza. Gallery Hózhó welcomed the sculptor Greyshoes (Upton Ethelbah Jr.), jeweler Melody Monarch, and digital artist Adrian Standing Elk Pinnecoose.
Greyshoes(Upton Ethelbah Jr.) sculpts contemporary, stylized, and flowing forms inspired by the aesthetic motifs and movements found in the ceremonial regalia and dances of his Native American heritage (Santa Clara Pueblo and White Mountain Apache). Some specific representations have included Apache crown dancers, Pueblo corn, deer, elk, antelope and buffalo dancers; and even the pan-American Matachines. Greyshoes is also known for his "essentialized" Native American medicine bears and a variety of other sacred animal representations.
Greyshoes works exclusively in stone, including exotic and domestic marble, limestone, alabaster, and onyx. A selection of one-of-a-kind stone originals are then chosen to be cast in bronze in limited editions. These bronzes feature patinas in a range of colors, patterns, and textures.
Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Adrian Standing Elk Pinnecoose (Navajo/Southern Ute) received his master’s degree in computational ecologies from the University of New Mexico’s School of Architecture and Planning in 2017. His jewelry and prints reflect his culture, identity, and values. He often plays with geometric shapes to create innovative designs and art, using computer-generated designs.
“My culture, my identity, my values are intertwined into the fabrication of my art to begin the conversation of opening doors for the next generation of Indigenous artists. I am simultaneously looking back to the past and forward to the future in order to highlight the qualitative aspect of my heritage and weave those meanings into my designs. ”
— Adrian Standing Elk Pinnecoose, 2020
