Ohkay Owingeh Original Painting of Three Colorful Turtles [SOLD]

As a child, P'otsúnú was taken from her native pueblo and sent to the Santa Fe Indian School, as was the routine for all Pueblo Indian students of the time. The irony is that she hated the place at first; running away from the legacy that she would help develop. Like many early students of the Santa Fe Indian School (SFIS), she resented being taken from her pueblo to the boarding school, but the tutelage of Dorothy Dunn, founder of the famous "Studio" fostered in the young girl a love of art that remains to this day. Montoya would succeed Dunn as the director of the arts program at SFIS, and oversee it for the next quarter century, before leaving to start the San Juan Crafts Co-Op. She retired in 1973 to focus on her art.

This wonderful painting of three colorful turtles was painted in 1966 and purchased by the current owner at that time.  The choice of colors shows the artist's youthful approach to art at that time when she was probably still teaching at the Santa Fe Indian School and surrounded by youthful upcoming artists.  The student's enthusiasm probably spilled over to influence her approach to art.

Condition:  the painting is in original condition

Provenance: from the collection of Katherine H. Rust

Recommended Reading:  "The Worlds of P´otsúnú: Geronima Cruz Montoya of San Juan Pueblo" by Jeanne Shutes and Jill Mellic