Shiprock Santa Fe Gallery is pleased to announce its latest exhibition: The House of Kiva New. The exhibition features clothing and textiles designed by the late fashion designer, Lloyd Kiva New (Cherokee); jewelry from “The Father of Modernism for Navajo jewelry,” Kenneth Begay (Navajo); and a couture gown by Santa Fe based fashion designer, Orlando Dugi (Navajo).
2016 marks the 100th birthday of Lloyd Kiva New and Santa Fe’s top museums are celebrating with exhibitions dedicated to New’s work and influence. Exhibitions are currently on view at IAIA’s Museum of Contemporary Native Art (MoCNA), the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture (MIAC) and the New Mexican Museum of Art.
Lloyd Kiva New and Kenneth Begay were pioneers of the Native American Modernist Movement—combining Native American cultural references with modern design elements. In 1946, New opened a clothing store in Scottsdale, Arizona and began making handbags; shortly after, Begay established the White Hogan, quickly becoming the country’s pre-eminent Navajo silversmith collective.
“We wanted to showcase our Lloyd Kiva New collection alongside his peers, like Begay, other fashion influencers, and contemporary Native fashion designers,” said Shiprock Santa Fe Gallery Director Jamie Way.
Last June, in honor of the Wheelwright Museum opening, the Center for the Study of Southwestern Jewelry, Orlando Dugi presented an interactive couture fashion show at Shiprock Santa Fe. “I am thrilled,” said Dugi “to return to Shiprock to share a gown from last year’s Cochineal collection.” The gown was the centerpiece of Red That Colored the World at the Museum of International Folk Art last May, which then traveled to New York.
In keeping with the theme of noted Native fashion icons, artists Teri Greeves and Keri Ataumbi are generously loaning an outfit, owned and worn by their mother Jeri Ah-be-hill, to be displayed in the exhibition. Ah-be-hill, who passed away in 2015, had a lifelong passion for indigenous art and tribal clothing.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of items during The House of Kiva New will be donated to the Jeri Ah-be‐hill Scholarship fund at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA).
Wearable clothing and jewelry by Lloyd Kiva New, Kenneth Begay, Orlando Dugi and more… will be available online and in gallery beginning May 18, 2016. The House of Kiva New will be on view in the gallery through mid-July 2016.
