Dan Lomahaftewa

Born in 1951, Dan Lomahaftewa was the first Native artist to have a solo show at RAINMAKER. His generosity of spirit and desire to share and embrace the world around him led him far beyond his ancestral homeland. His magical paintings and passion for cultural exchange earned him awards, grants, and fellowships to exhibit and travel extensively in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Dan Lomahaftewa passed away on April 14, 2005. Artist Statement : “From when I was very young, I was surrounded by expressions of beauty. As far back as I remember there were colorful and intricately designed baskets, pottery, rattles, bow and arrows, weavings, beadwork, and Katsina dolls accenting all the households of my family. There was an abundance of colorful regalia for ceremonial and social dancing and singing, in which my family and I still participate. This exposure has helped me to appreciate the beauty and aesthetics of my people. My own search for expression brought me to look to what had always influenced me and many other Native Americans, that being the inseparable interweaving of the lifeway of Indian People and their spirituality.” Dan Lomahaftewa