Modesto jc ARTS

A public reception is scheduled for Thursday, February 21, 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Art Gallery.  The reception is free of charge and light refreshments are served.

Gorman, 1931–2005, was born in Arizona and descended from generations of Navajo craftsmen, holy men, and tribal leaders. He was encouraged by a mission school teacher to develop his talent for art. After several years in the United State Navy, he attended Arizona State College (now Northern Arizona University).  However, it was a visit to Mexico in 1958 and then a year spent at Mexico City College (now University of the Americas) that confirmed his desire to be an artist.

After spending several years in San Francisco developing as a painter, Gorman moved to Taos, NM. In 1965 he received a one-man exhibition in the Manchester Gallery there, and by 1968 his work was enjoying enough success that he bought the gallery, changed its name to Navajo Gallery, and began to exhibit and sell his own and other artists’ work.

In the 1970s, as Gorman’s reputation spread throughout the USA and abroad, he moved from working with oil, acrylic and pastel to lithographs, ceramics and occasional sculptures, continuing to use Southwest Native American themes. He is one of the first Native Americans to be internationally recognized as a major American artist.