Oct 29, 2014 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Honoring Others, Relationship Overdrive, To See or Not to See |
Echo Canyon just a mile north of George O’Keefe’s Ghost Ranch — a great canyon to play my flutes or chant our Native songs…
The 2.5 hour drive from Santa Fe, New Mexico heading north on Hwy 84 to Pagosa Springs, Colorado is one of the most scenic west of the Mississippi. I am a fortunate one to experience this drive at least once a year, especially now since my son lives with his family in Santa Fe. The way I feel about this country is like when I drive along the Chilkat River, especially Mud Bay Road in Haines – my heart and spirit soars! No other place does this with me like the Chilkat River area in Haines, Alaska and the Chama River area in Geronimo Country in Northern New Mexico…!
The River Chama — my favorite overlook where I will pull out my ukelele and play westerns like “Ghost Riders in the Sky…!”
This country just about an hour north of Santa Fe and in the Abiqui area, in modern-day is nick-named “Georgia O’Keefe Country” – though back in the 1800’s, was known as Geronimo country. Geronimo was Apache; this is Chiricahua Apache country. He was born June 16, 1829 on the Chama River in this awesomely, beautiful land. There are many books on Georgia O’Keefe, her work, the landscape, her homes and even the interior decor of the way she kept her homes. If there were books on Geronimo that he actually wrote, I wonder what would be portrayed.
Crossing the New Mexico/Colorado border…
If Geronimo had an iPad or at least an iPhone to take photos of his family, his tribe, his way of life, his landscape and the way he loved, what would we see? What would he have said regarding the U.S. Government and the wars. If he had Facebook, what would he have shared? What would he have written about himself? What would others have said about him?
When driving through this country, when walking on this land, when camping along the Chama River, only my imagination fills in the frame of each “photo.”
Jan 1, 2012 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Class Act |
Half of the dorm room; notice the hummel and ukelele on the wall - playing music helps survive the academia and four walls - the other half of the room is occupied by my Italian roommate
24 years ago, after my last child was born, I took a few classes at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe – it was my way of “getting out of the house” without taking any responsibilities with me except those that I carried in regards to schooling. Then I was not interested in achieving a degree so I took fun classes. However, I’ve raised my family on my art income without a back-up “real” job and I thought it’s time to get my Bachelor of Fine Arts; in this way I have the balance of the Indigenous and Western credentials. Why is it important to have that balance? To gain more understanding of the complexities of living in a cross-cultural world.
The Center for Lifelong Learning at the Institute of American Indian Arts
At first, I scoffed at the concept of having to take the requirement classes in Drawing I & II, Geometry, Intro to Indigenous Studies, Contemporary Art, Native Art History I & II, English Composition I & II, etc. — yadda, yaddie, yaddue! Like golly, Holy Moses, do I have to take stuff I pretty much already know!? Friends of mine thought that with my status as a full-time artists for three decades, I ought to be a teacher at IAIA, not a student! Often I had wondered what the heck am I doing wasting my time getting stupid credentials. Yet, I’ve discovered how much I DON’T KNOW and how much fun it is to go through the assignments and learn additional stuff! We humans are so doggone arrogant and funny!
Easy walks on IAIA campus
At IAIA, we either gain weight because of the astounding food at the cafeteria, or we lose weight because IAIA is an easy campus to walk. Up on a mesa, it has 360 degree views of spectacular skies and faraway mountains. Although a biting cold in Winter, it’s sunny about 395 days of the year. And for those of us coming from Southeast Alaska, well…although the countryside lacks the dramatics of the big spruce, hemlock, alders and cedars, there is an ancient silence in the high-country deserts of the Southwest. As any of us Indigenous peoples know, go out onto the land and feel its gifts. There is the everlasting to appreciate.
Sweatlodge skeleton at IAIA; in use during the late Fall/Winter/Spring - what other 4-year accredited college are you aware of that conducts sweatlodge ceremonies?
There is a footpath for runners and walkers alike on campus. I don’t remember how many acres belong to IAIA, but it’s enough to continue growing. Hopefully, as IAIA grows its campus, the designers will always keep in mind our need to be connected to the earth, especially for many of us who are missing our homelands and require being outside — feeling the earth beneath our feet and enjoying the horizon.
Courtyard of the sculputure building at IAIA -- If I am not mistaken, this monumental, marble sculpture is by Craig Dan Goyesun - behind bars, the courtyard gate was locked. I thought this an interesting image.
IAIA is a unique environment. I hadn’t come to appreciate its qualities until this past Fall Semester. There is an Indigenous Studies department that was added to the “normal” Western curriculum of IAIA. Some of the classes from this department are requirements for a BFA. As mentioned earlier, I resisted taking the requirements, yet I discovered how much I don’t know and better yet, I discovered how much I want to learn! I am actually considering achieving a Minor in Indigenous Studies. We’ll see what transpires within this next year.
The Chama River near Abiqui, New Mexico - October 2011
I commute from my studio home in Colorado to IAIA. The 3-hour drive is one of the most scenic in North America (2nd best to that drive from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory to Haines, Alaska!). The drive enables me to relax, listen to Van Morrison’s “Listen to the Lion” and books on tape.
The Chama River with first snow - December 2011
I drive through Geronimo’s Apache homeland and “Georgia O’Keefe” country. Although the high-country desert is a vast difference from the rainforest of my homeland in Southeast Alaska, I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate the beauty both environments have to offer. I am privileged to have the option to experience these kinds of freedoms in America.
Looking towards "Ghost Ranch" of Georgia O'Keefe country during first snow - December 2011
Many years ago, my mother and father, Irene and William Lampe, encouraged me to get a degree; they said it’s the way to “get ahead” and understand living in the Western world. My mother said that back when she was young if she had the grant opportunities we have now, she’d have gone to school and she often wondered what her life would have been like. On behalf of my parents, I’d like to thank the following Grantors for their support:
* Chugach Heritage Foundation * Sealaska Heritage Institute * Tlingit & Haida Central Counil * Huna Heritage Foundation * Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) and * FAFSA
