Noted Beadwork Artist Headlines Huhugam Event

Today was CultureFest Day at the Huhugam Cultural Heritage Center. Maricopa area residents, many members of the local Native American communities and Valley arts patrons gathered for an afternoon of exhibits, crafts, food, traditional music and presentations by nationally known beadwork artist Emil Her Many Horses. Monica King, Education Curator at the Huhugam Center, said, “We are pleased to have Mr. Her Many Horses here. We are particularly pleased to be chosen as a Smithsonian CultureFest site since we are way out here on the reservation, and we are a very new facility.”

Beadwork projects created by noted artist Emil Her Many Horses.

Mr. Her Many Horses’ discussion and slide show featured various tribal patterns found in Native American beadwork. He explained, “I will show you what the various patterns are and what we look for in classifying beadwork for collections.” The collections he referred to are those found at the newly opened Native American Museum in Washington, D.C. Mr. Her Many Horses is an assistant curator there as well as a famous beadwork artist. He willingly demonstrated some of his beadwork techniques as well as some of his past and present projects.

In addition to the afternoon’s featured speaker, several Native American artists were on hand to demonstrate their skills and their unique crafts which included glass making, jewelry making, embroidery, glass etching, ceramics, and clothing inspired by Native American symbols and designs. Indian tacos of many kinds, fry bread, and various beverages were available for purchase.

The Breazeale Basket Collection is on display in the main gallery. Purchased by the Gila River Indian Community in 1997, the nearly intact collection consists of 84 Pima baskets documented in J.F. Breazeale’s 1923 book The Pima Indian and His Basket. Other exhibits currently on display are “Ancient Trails of the Arid Southwest” and “With an Eye on Culture: The Photography of Helga Teiwes”.

Basket weaving and textile design were just two of the many crafts on display.

The Breazeale Basket Collection on display.

Many in attendance were first time visitors to the Huhugam Center. Their remarks included, “It’s a beautiful facility.” “The collections are wonderful.” “I really learned a lot from the Trails exhibit.”

The Smithsonian has discovered our area’s Huhugam Cultural Center. Have you?