Untitled Five-Figure Ceremonial Dance Scene by Ma Pe Wi [SOLD]

This five-figure ceremonial dance scene was painted by Zia Pueblo artist Velino Herrera, or “Ma Pe Wi.”  The artworks of Velino Herrera have become quite popular among our clientele, and for good reason.  They are exceptional examples of the traditional Pueblo style.  Each one is unique and spirited, but the artist’s admirable technical abilities and keen eye for detail remain consistent throughout his career.  We are always happy to have the opportunity to give one of Herrera’s works a close study.  That we do not see many of them contributes to the excitement of each new arrival.

This untitled dance scene is another excellent offering from Herrera.  It features five dance participants, with no background or ground plane.  On the right, we see two drummers in traditional pueblo attire.  On the left, directly in the drummers’ path, we see three dancers.  They wear the attire and carry the weaponry of Plains Indian tribes—colorful shields, massive spears and elaborate feathered headdresses.  Two dancers are depicted in profile; the third turns directly toward the viewer, allowing a good look at the intricacies of his clothing.  As per usual, Herrera’s work is exceptionally detailed, with fine linework, careful shading and a vibrant color palette.  The feeling of depth and dimension that this image conveys is what sets Herrera apart from many of his peers. This is a beautiful piece from a skilled Pueblo traditionalist.

The painting is signed Ma Pe Wi in lower right.  It is framed under acrylic and a thin gray mat in a simple black frame.  The gray and black used in the framing materials complement the painting wonderfully.

Velino Shije Herrera (1902-1973) Ma Pe Wi (Oriole) was a Zia Pueblo painter who is regarded as one of the earliest known Rio Grande pueblo painters.  Crescencio Martinez of San Ildefonso Pueblo was, by most accounts, the earliest of the pueblo easel artists. Martinez passed away in 1918, long before pueblo easel art was recognized as existing.  He was followed by four young pueblo men who essentially constitute the first Pueblo artists to produce paintings for sale. The four were Martinez's nephew Awa Tsireh, Hopi artists Fred Kabotie and Otis Polelonema, and Velino Herrera.  These artists became very productive around 1918, feeding off each other's enthusiasm. Dr. Edgar Lee Hewitt, Director of the Museum of New Mexico, arranged for the four young men to work at the museum in 1920. Famous New Mexicans Alice Corbin Henderson, Mary Austin, and Mabel Dodge Luhan were instrumental in finding outlets for the works of these artists.  They purchased their paintings and found others to purchase them as well.

By the time he was 20 years old, Herrera’s painting technique had improved tremendously, and his works showed great confidence and control.  He was applying colors in complementary tones and could exhibit perspective in his works. Ethnographic accuracy was important to Herrera, and his paintings were strong in that regard.  Clara Lee Tanner’s Southwest Indian Painting: A Changing Art praised Herrera’s skill and versatility: “Watercolor, Shiva, tempera and oils, all have been mastered by Velino Herrera.  He has painted murals in homes and in public buildings; particular mention should be made of his fine work in the Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C.  His work is done in a flat style, or with a little shading, or in full perspective. Full realism to abstract painting was developed by Ma-Pe-Wi, frequently the two styles appear in the same picture.” Today, his paintings are considered to be quite collectible, because of both historical significance and the quality of work.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this Untitled Five-Figure Ceremonial Dance Scene by Ma Pe Wi is fromprivate Santa Fe collection

Recommended Reading: Southwest Indian Painting: A Changing Art by Clara Lee Tanner

Relative Links: Zia Pueblo, Awa Tsireh, Fred Kabotie, Native American Paintings