Pop Chalee Painting of a Single Buffalo Dancer [R]

A book published in 1997 entitled "The World of Flower Blue" by Margaret Cesa provides a wonderful look into the life of Pop Chalee. Cesa states "Pop Chalee was one of the first Native American woman artists to achieve national fame, recognition and commercial success."  The author continues to explore the artist, who was born of a Swiss mother and Taos Pueblo father, in 1906.  Her father, Joe Lujan, was the brother of Tony Lujan who was the last husband of Mabel Dodge Lujan.

Merina Lujan (1906-1993) Pop Chalee - Blue Flower graduated from the Santa Fe Indian School in 1937 and was a student at The Studio under the tutelage of Dorothy Dunn.  The author continues: "Her paintings, jewelry, textile designs and murals grace museums, private collections and public institutions across the county.  During her artistic life, Pop knew some of the most influential people of her times."   

The author presents the story and burdens that Pop Chalee and other Native American female artists encountered in a society that was hostile to one or another of those terms.  The book makes the point that contemporary Native artists lose sight of the difficult path that the early artists had to follow.

In this wonderful painting by Pop Chalee of a single Buffalo Dancer, the artist has presented in simplified detail a moment in time when the dancer is actively pursuing the dance.  His legs and arms are in motion and his head is positioned downward at the ground.  It is painted on grey paper.  The artist was true to the principals of The Studio in that there is no background to the painting, only the dirt mound on which the dancer is positioned.

This is by far the largest painting by Pop Chalee we have ever had in the gallery and the only one featuring a pueblo dancer.   Other paintings of hers have been the enchanted forest scenes and animals such as buffalo. 

Reference: The World of Flower Blue by Margaret Cesa

Provenance:  ex. coll. California collector of Native American paintings.  

More Recommended Reading: there is a wonderful article “Preserving Pop Chalee” By ABQJournal News Staff, Published Friday, June 16th, 2017 (click here to view now – this will take you to their website).