Honoring Navajo traditions in photography

Photographer Carmen Hunter poses Kami Ortie for a photograph Thursday at the Navajo Nation Museum in Window Rock. As part of the opening for their combined show at the museum, "Native Faces--Desert Light," photographers Hunter and David H. Davis set up a studio in the museum so they could photograph elders and grandchildren for their future projects. The show runs until May 20, 2006. [Photo by John A. Bowersmith/Independent]

By John Christian Hopkins
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — A new photographic exhibit opened at the Navajo Nation Museum Thursday.

"Visions of the People and Their Native Land" features inspirational photographs by David H. Davis and Navajo photographer Carmen Hunter.

It runs through May 20, 2006. Hunter is of the Towering House People Clan, born for the Coyote People.

"This is a multi-faceted project," Davis said. In addition to preserving the Navajo culture, it serves to teach others about the traditional ways, he said.

Davis and Hunter met five years ago and quickly found they shared a passion for photography and a desire to honor Navajo traditions.

Museum curator Clarenda Begay met Hunter a year ago and they talked of bringing this exhibit to Navajo.

"It's just a wonderful exhibit," Begay said.

The exquisite photos depict Navajos in traditional dress, usually flanked at some breathtaking location on the reservation, such as Teardrop Arch, in Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly and Three Turkey Canyon.

Among the works exhibited are "Grandpa Clah, the Craftsman" and "A Mother's Love" by Hunter; and Davis' "Telling Grandma a Story" and "Playing in her Golden Puddle." "There's a bit of me in every photograph, whether it's a two-year-old running around the studio, or an elder laughing hysterically," Davis said.

"I'm doing it for the people," said Hunter of her desire to preserve the culture.

Thursday's grand opening featured a reception, a native flutist, a screening of Davis and Hunter's "Native Faces Desert Light" and a chance for Navajos to come and be photographed and possibly appear in future photographs by Davis and Hunter.

"We have trouble finding males and older ones," Hunter said of the casting call. The first model was seven-year-old Kami Ortiz, a second-grader at St. Francis. Outgoing and photogenic, Kami is an old hand at having her picture taken.

"At fairs and pow wows, people always want to take her picture," said Begay, her mother. "She figured out she can make her own money at it. If people ask to take her picture, she asks for $1."

"I have a small microwave," Kami said. "I can make my own treats."

Though she likes posing, Kami doesn't know if she wants to pursue modeling, or her other love - art. She loves to draw, especially hummingbirds.

Meanwhile Davis is posing models before a backdrop.

"Turn to the left, take a small step to the right," Davis instructs one model. "Lower your head. I'm really not a drill sergeant."

Another model, Charles Yazzie, is a little shy at first.

"I've got a big stomach," Yazzie said, as he viewed the digital images of himself.

"That's a good shot," Davis assured him. "It shows your jewelry and your muscles."

But he doesn't really have a large stomach, and appears very natural. He said he would consider appearing in future photographs.

"There's nothing hard about it, nothing came out and bit you," Davis said.

Yazzie works at the museum and helped to set things up for the opening. He said Hunter was telling him all day that he should get his photo taken, so he finally decided to. It was his first photo shoot, Yazzie laughed.

"Usually, I'm camera shy," he said.

Davis' wife, Joanie, was there also. Though, she said, her husband is the artistic one in the family.

"I don't do anything. Well, sometimes I help carry his equipment," she laughed.

(John Christian Hopkins can be reached at 1-505-371-5443, or by email at Hopkins1960@hotmail.com.)