Zia Pueblo Watercolor Four-Figure Dance Scene by Ma Pe Wi [SOLD]

This remarkable Zia Pueblo ceremonial dance scene was created by Velino Herrera.  The self-taught Zia Pueblo artist’s works are incredibly popular among our clientele.  When viewing this painting, the reasons for the artist’s popularity are crystal clear.  This image is rich in detail, depth, and dimension; it transports the viewer directly into the center of the dance.  Herrera was a restless creator who explored a variety of styles and mediums.  This painting, which mostly hews to the traditional pueblo style, is one of the finest works we’ve seen by the artist.  It is also a wonderful example of a skilled artist expressing his individual creative voice while working within the confines of an established style.

The painting features four figures.  On the far left, a drummer raises his stick and opens his mouth in song.  Next to the drummer is a male Buffalo Dancer.  He holds a bow and rattle as he performs his dance, trailing close behind is a female Buffalo Dancer.  The female’s eyes are closed as she performs her rhythmic, repetitive movements.  On the far right, a second male Buffalo Dancer moves in unison with his fellow participants.  What is most remarkable about these four is the incredible detail in which they are presented.  Herrera positioned them diagonally, rather than in profile, allowing the viewer to see everything.  Their faces, their clothing, even the movements themselves are on full display here, and everything feels very real. The color scheme—heavy on dark blues, grays, and greens, with a wide variety of brighter colors used sparingly—is incredibly attractive as well.  This is an exceptional example of Ma Pe Wi’s work.

The painting is signed Ma Pe Wi in lower right.  It is framed under acrylic and a wide white mat in a simple wood frame. 

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.” [Tanner,1973:151]

Today, his paintings are quite collectible, because of both historical significance and the quality of work.  An accident in 1955 took the life of his wife and seriously injured him to the point that he painted very little after that time.  He passed away in 1973.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this Zia Pueblo Watercolor Four-Figure Dance Scene by Ma Pe Wi is from a Private Santa Fe collection

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

Relative Links: Zia Pueblo, Awa Tsireh, Fred Kabotie, Native American Paintings, Ma Pe Wi, Velino Shije Herrera, Zia Pueblo Painter