Young artists urged to compete for scholarships, awards

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Bill Donovan
Staff writer

GALLUP — The Reunion of the Masters wants college-age artists and craftsmen to show them what they have.

For the first time, the Masters — a group of Native and non-Native craftspeople — are inviting artists, weavers and other craftspeople to submit entries to the group’s Scholarship and School Award’s program this year.

For the past eight years, the Masters have been holding a competition among school-age children — both Native and non-Native — providing a total of $25,000 worth of awards in the form of art supplies and art scholarships. That competition is now underway.

Thanks to a $3,000 donation from the Americans for Native Americans in honor of Bill and Connie Eastburn, the group has decided to expand its program to college-age craftspeople.

The competition the is restricted to students in college and universities and art institutions in the Four Corners area.

Jeremy Boucher, who runs the Gallup Cultural Center for the Southwest Indian Foundation, said the age limit is 25 years. He added that if someone who is out of high school and plans to go to college can also compete. Since the award check goes to the college, the winner must either be in college or with plans to go.

Irving Toddy, one of the founding artists for the Masters, said the sole purpose of the competition is to encourage young people to think about a career in the arts.

“What we are trying to do with expanding the competition is to reach out to a larger group,” he said.

The group also hopes, he said, that the competition brings a little prestige to Gallup since many of the 28 artists and craftspeople who are members of the Masters have ties with Gallup over the years, either by selling their products to local wholesalers or competing in the annual Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial.

He pointed out that Gallup is viewed by many as the birthplace of great Native American art.

“We hope to help Gallup further its heritage and gain the recognition it deserves by encouraging a new generation of artists,” he said.

Those who are interested in submitting a work can contact Boucher at (505) 863-4131 or can send the artwork to SWIF at the Gallup Cultural Center, 201 E. Highway 66, Gallup, N.M. 87301.

The deadline is Oct. 20. Judging will be done the following week by members of the organization.

The artwork will be shown at the group’s annual December art show, which this year will be held on the second floor of the cultural center from Dec. 4-6.