Native American Art Gallery Show Breaks Stereotypes, Draws Crowds

Solano Avenue, home to one of the only Native-owned Native American galleries in the Bay Area, featured a particularly rare display of art last weekend.

The California and Nevada Native Art Show was the first of its kind at Gathering Tribes, which hosts several shows each month. The four featured artists create work outside the stereotypical image of Native American art, participants said.

"A lot of times, when people think of Indians they think of pow-wows and bead work and not as much about abalone, pine nuts and baskets," said Leah Mata, 44, an artist from a Chumash tribe in San Luis Obispo. "A lot of people feel California Indians are an invisible population."

A table outside the gallery shone with her abalone and pine nut jewelry, and also featured key chains crafted by her daughter, Naomi Whitehorse.

"It makes me happy because people think my work is good and can learn about our culture," the 10-year-old said.

Among the visitors who took advantage of the cultural experience was Albany resident Margo Wecksler, 64. The "regular irregular" at the gallery said the style of the artwork drew her in.

"My husband, who passed away, was a lawyer representing Native Americans' rights to water, and a member of the Yurok tribe gave him a necklace," she said. "I thought I'd find out more about it if I came."

The show accomplished its mission of giving visitors—about 80 total on Saturday and Sunday—a chance to talk to artists and ask them questions, said Pennie Opal Plant, 52, who owns and founded Gathering Tribes in 1991.

"It exposed ordinary people to the reality of native life in California and Nevada, so it was a really positive thing," said Plant, a painter and poet of Yaqui, Mexican, Choctaw, Cherokee and European descent.

Handicrafts for sale ranged from $15 acorn dolls to $580 hand-woven baskets by Everett Pikyavit, 42, of a southern Nevada tribe, the Moapa Band of Paiutes. Pikyavit follows a 9,000-year-old tradition.

"I'm a culture carrier in that regard because I'm the only person from the southern part of the Great Basin who produces that type of basket form," he said.

Adjacent to Pikyavit was a table full of abalone jewelry made by Tiffany, 44, who has roots from the Chemehuevi, a tribe from Lake Havasu, and the Konkow and Maidu, from the Lake Orville area.

Tiffany, who does not use a last name publicly, said the Albany community's receptiveness made being part of the show rewarding.

"I'm originally from the Bay Area so it was really nice to see the diversity of people here," she said.

One Albany family that stopped by for the show Saturday and could not resist a repeat visit Sunday.

"It makes people aware that there is more than just Plains tribes, and there is so much art and culture within each tribe," said Carolyn Parsley, 36, whose mother was adopted from a reservation of the Quinault-Chinook tribe in Washington.

Her husband, Brian Parsley, 40, said the show was "a real draw" for more than the gallery.

"It helps Solano Avenue because it gets people to come here and go to other businesses too," said the life-long Albany resident.

The show drew out-of-towners, such as Novato resident Peggy Merz, 62, who bought four pairs of earrings, a necklace, a basket and a gourd vase. She hadn't decided on recipients for the gifts but purchased them "because of the hands that make them and the intentions that go into them." 

Much of the show's success was owed to the gallery owner's involvement and connection with the Native American community, said Luwanna Quitiquit, 68, an artist of the Robinson Rancheria Pomo tribe from the town of Nice.

"Pennie has a wonderful store that has a good feeling about it. A lot of regular customers come here all the time and everybody knows her," said Quitiquit, who specializes in doll-making, custom clothing, Pomo open-weave basketry and abalone jewelry.

Plant said she plans to have another show for western tribes artists next year and hopes to bring five artists, which is the most the gallery can accommodate.

Artists keep all the proceeds from their sales, but "it's a win-win situation for everyone," she said.

"It brings people here who normally would not come here and, in Native American culture, it's all about community," said Plant.