Gilbert Atencio Painting of a Tewa Harvest Dance [SOLD]

September is the month when most pueblos celebrate the season with a Harvest Dance. That is the scene pictured here by Gilbert Atencio, painted in 1964.  The artist signed and dated the painting 64.

A short time before the Fall Equinox the Tewa Pueblos of New Mexico begin preparations for their annual Harvest Dance, signifying the end of the agricultural season. Generally, all members of the pueblo will participate. In this painting, Gilbert Atencio (1930-1995) Wah Peen shows us four members of the dance — only a portion of the large group of dancers but it illustrates the important banner carrier, drummer, and a male and female dancer. Other members of the dance would be like the male and female shown here.

The banner carrier carries the banner in an upright position during the dance. The drummer provides the beat for the hundreds of dancers who will begin to appear. Outside the kiva will be displayed baskets of corn, squash, and other seasonal items. These items will be shared with participants watching the dance.

The beat of the drum is the signal for the dancers to begin forming in the plaza. The men and women dancers will be dressed in colorful traditional pueblo clothing and displaying beautiful turquoise jewelry.

Gilbert had a talent for painting humans, particularly showing extraordinary faces. He was equally talented in painting clothing of male and female dancers. His works, while almost always traditional as far as subject matter goes, are instantly recognizable because of his exceptional technical abilities and keen eye for detail. This painting is no exception. The participants look about as real as possible with watercolors. Atencio honors the traditional style by focusing on the dancers and their clothing and expands on the style by successfully adding depth and detail.

Atencio's male figure, pictured next to the banner carrier, dances in his traditional clothing. He carries a rattle and an evergreen bough, and every detail of his clothing is presented with incredible accuracy. The female dancer, pictured next to the male dancer, dances directly toward the viewer. She, too, is depicted with great care. Her tableta is exceptional. It is apparent that she dances with intention. Atencio's color palette here is large and varied. His efforts to portray his subjects with accuracy and sensitivity were, as usual, successful. This wonderful painting will delight collectors with an appreciation for traditional Pueblo imagery.

Gilbert Atencio (1930-1995) Wah Peen attended Santa Fe Indian School, graduating in 1947. By the time he was twenty, he had exhibited at the Santa Fe Museum, the Gallup Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial, various Albuquerque venues, and the Philbrook Art Center in Oklahoma. By the time he reached 19 years of age, he had been awarded six first prizes, six second prizes and five third prizes. Atencio's family included four siblings, one of whom was well-known Santa Clara Pueblo potter Helen Gutierrez. His parents were Isabel Montoya (1899-1996) and Benjamin Atencio (? -1963). His grandmother and Maria Martinez's mother were sisters. His niece is Geraldine Gutierrez, who is a painter and potter from Santa Clara Pueblo

Atencio will certainly be recognized as one of the finest pueblo painters of the second half of the 20th century — not only from San Ildefonso Pueblo, but among all pueblo painters. His attention to detail was unparalleled. A professional medical illustrator at Los Alamos National Labs, Atencio carried his precise drawing and painting skills over to his fine art paintings. His crisply drawn and clearly colored renderings of ceremonial and home life have, since around 1947, been favorites in many shows. Much of Atencio's inspiration for paintings came from stories his aunts told him about their lives. His style varied from the traditional flat style done early in his career, to more realistic paintings done later in his career. Atencio passed away in 1995 and remains highly regarded by collectors.

Condition: original excellent condition

Provenance: this Gilbert Atencio Painting of a Tewa Harvest Dance is from a client of Adobe Gallery

Recommended Reading: AMERICAN INDIAN PAINTING of the Southwest and Plains Areas by Dorothy Dunn

TAGS: Native American Paintings, San Ildefonso Pueblo, Isabel M. Montoya, Maria Martinez, Gilbert Atencio