Young Masters
Art is inspired by Native writing

Seventh grader Aaron Yazzie works on a scratchboard drawing while friend Niklas Ellis looks on Thursday at Tohatchi Middle School. Yazzie won the grand prize in the 2008-09 Native American Literature Awareness and Poster Contest. — © 2009 Gallup Independent / Cable Hoover

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

TOHATCHI — Tohatchi Middle School students garnered the top prizes of the Gallup McKinley County School districtwide fourth annual Native American Literature Awareness and Poster Contest by researching Native American authors and creating artwork inspired by their writings.

Seventh-grader Aaron Yazzie won grand prize for his essay and painting inspired by N. Scott Momaday. His sister Michelle Yazzie, eighth grade, won first place for her essay on Sherman Alexie and painting of the cover of “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.” Angelica Showalter, eighth grade, won second place for her essay on Luci Tapahonso and painting inspired by “Songs of Shiprock Fair.”

Aaron has been taking art classes since elementary school and wants to be a professional artist. He often draws in his free time at home.

The hardest part of the competition was writing the essay about the author, he said.

For Michelle, the hardest part was painting “because there was a lot of different colors.”

Michelle has been taking art classes since she was in sixth grade and said she enjoys it because “you can just be creative with whatever you’re drawing.”

While her brother Aaron is drawing at home, Michelle can more often be found reading books. She is currently involved in Stephanie Meyers’ “Twilight” series.

Aaron and Michelle come from an artistic family. Their father also draws, they said.

“He just taught me how to focus on what you’re drawing,” Michelle said.

Their parents are proud of their achievements, the siblings said.

“They’re proud of me and tell me to stay in art,” Aaron said.

And their art teacher also said they have natural talent.

“Michelle and Aaron are both natural artists,” art teacher Sharon Swindler said.

Showalter, however, was a surprise, she said.

“She came in new this year, wasn’t showing much natural ability. She got into this contest and just took off and is definitely showing natural art ability now,” Swindler said.

This is the first year that Showalter has taken art class and she enjoys it “because you can express your feelings by drawing them on a piece of paper.”

By writing the essay, Angelica learned there are many Native American authors.

“It actually made me feel proud of how Native Americans become authors. I never realized how many (there are),” she said.

She didn’t think that she would place in the competition.

“It feels like we did a really good job,” Showalter said after hearing praise from her teachers.

Along with Swindler, librarian Virginia Price helped the students with the writing part of the competition.

Price said that 17 students from Tohatchi Middle School entered and she wasn’t surprised that three of them took the top prizes.

“They worked really hard. They really did their best,” she said. She added that the students worked on their entries for three weeks.

“Miss Swindler and I were so proud of our school. They made us happy, the kids,” Price said.

The students also have the support of their principal, Bart Standley.

“Our Native American kids are really visual. We’ve been making sure we do have art for them,” he said.

Students enter all types of art contests throughout the year and have been instrumental in painting the murals in the hallway, Standley said.

The three students — Aaron, Michelle and Angelica — won certificates recognizing their achievements and gift certificates to Borders/Waldenbooks book stores.

Michelle said she is going to be spending hers on the fourth book in the “Twilight” series. Also a fan of “Twilight,” Angelica recently received the whole set so she is going to search for a new book to read. As for Aaron, he is going to browse the book store before deciding how to spend his prize.

They each said that they will be entering other art competitions in the future.

Winning third place in the districtwide competition is Alexis Harvey from Navajo Middle School. Students from Gallup Middle School, Navajo Middle School and Thoreau Elementary entered.

Entries were judged by Jerry Brown and Dee Touchine based on the quality of the artwork, the Native author study and student reflection.

The winning entries and honorable mentions will be on display at the Native Hands Gallery at the Catholic Indian Center, Jan. 17 to Jan. 31. An opening reception will be held Jan. 17 beginning at 7 p.m.