Fine Art - Native American Paintings Zia Pueblo, Tsi-ya Drawings

Ma Pe Wi Pencil Drawing of a Male Dancer

Velino Shije Herrera (Ma Pe Wi) Zia Pueblo Painter

Category: Drawings
Origin: Zia Pueblo, Tsi-ya
Medium: pencil
Size:
9-¾” x 4-¾” image;
14-½” x 9-⅝” framed
Item # C4739P
Price: $1000

Ma-Pe-Wi (Velino Shije Herrera): A Masterpiece of Motion

This exceptional pencil drawing represents a rare moment where a study transcends into a fully realized masterwork. Far from a mere sketch, this is a finished, intentional composition by one of the most influential figures in the history of 20th-century Native American painting: Velino Shije Herrera (1902-1973) Ma Pe Wi - Oriole.

The Art of the Dance

Ma-Pe-Wi was a pioneer in capturing the spiritual vitality of Pueblo life, and this piece is a testament to his observational genius. The drawing features a Pueblo male dancer caught in the height of a ceremonial "active mode."

The artist brilliantly freezes time; the dancer's right foot is suspended mid-stride, caught in the rhythmic descent back to the earth. To further emphasize this movement, Ma-Pe-Wi has rendered the turquoise necklace in a graceful swing, a subtle but powerful visual cue that allows the viewer to "hear" the rhythm of the dance.

The figure is depicted in elaborate ceremonial regalia, rendered with the meticulous detail for which Ma-Pe-Wi is celebrated. He wears a traditional kilt secured by a white cotton rain belt, its long, hand-knotted fringe cascading down his right side. Around his calves, a belt of bells is visible-instruments of prayer that provide the percussive heartbeat of the ceremony.

In one hand, he clasps a gourd rattle to summon the rain; in the other, a sprig of sacred evergreen, symbolizing eternal life. His upper body is adorned with leather armbands securing fresh evergreen boughs, while a delicate cluster of feathers sits atop his head, completing the sacred attire.

Signed Ma-Pe-Wi in the lower right, this drawing is an impeccable example of the "Modern Indian School" style. It offers a rare level of finished detail in pencil-a medium that reveals the artist's raw skill and steady hand. This is not just a drawing; it is a profound document of Pueblo culture and a cornerstone acquisition for any serious collection of Zia Pueblo art.