Native Art Voices of the Four Corners

Venaya Yazzie is joined by Aj Begay, who is a member of the eastern Navajo reservation originally from Nageezi, New Mexico. She is a Army Veteran of the late 1990s. She served as a  Field Artillery Surveyor.

Venaya Yazzie does a Wrap Up on 2023. From the guest speaker to the different artifacts talked about over the year.

A 23-year old visual artist and poet who is half Zuni Pueblo and half Indonesian Chinese. She currently resides in Gallup New Mexico near Zuni Pueblo. Her poetry was recently included in the 2023 New Mexico Poetry Anthology.

Originally from Kirtland New Mexico and educated in Shiprock of New Mexico.  Cheryl is Navajo and Comanche. She is a native woman academic educator and teaches on Navajo history. She is a published writer and currently resides in Arizona as a professor of Native American studies.

Nate Nez is a citizen of the Navajo Nation of Arizona. He is a multi-media artist with a focus on painting, and ledger art. Nate is also a U.S. Veteran and husband and father. He currently resides in Albuquerque, NM. He recently won he first place award at the annual Eiteljorg Museum Indian Market in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Derrick Kosea resides just outside of Farmington, NM. He has recently taken on the challenge of landscape photography and enjoys every bit of it, "I want to share my art with everyone and continue to keep learning and growing in my love for photography.

Ernie Washee is a Navajos Silversmith from Blanding Utah. His silver jewelry work is rooted in the iconic Southwest petroglyph figures found on sandstone rocks. He specializes in overlay metalwork and uses designs such as deer, ok and spiral designs.

Kevin Aspaas is a Diné artist from Shiprock,NM in northwest NM. He is a make weaver who is carrying on the tradition of the Navajo loom and textiles.  He specializes in the Diné “wedge-weave” design. Kevin also creates Navajo women’s cultural dress called a “biil.”

Navajo jazz musician Delbert Anderson “clings to culture” as he creates his jazz improvisation music while fostering youth of the community, and preserving his culture within the Four Corners. Anderson's song “Groove Warrior” leads the path to new inspirations.

Jasper Littletree is a Navajo elder mixed media artist from Kirtland, NM.  He has many mediums he works in including painting, ceramics, and most recently silversmithing. For this interview, Mr. Littletree dialogued about his many interests in the Arts and also discussed the history of his family surname.  This podcast is unique, as Jasper shares some of this experience via the Navajo language.  

A Navajo woman n business owner of Bluehorse Real Estate from the Farmington community. Alyssa is a master in the art of real estate and organizing, creating inspirational spaces and celebrating Native American women artists.

Venaya Yazzie Interview comic book artist Shaun Beyale 

Dr. Lloyd Lee Ph. D. is an educator and a professor at the University of New Mexico. He has written several academic books on the subject of the Navajo people, their identity, and Navajo nationalism. He is also an organizer of the annual Diné Studies Conference. He believes in telling the true narrative of the modern Navajo people and their rich history.

Host Venaya Yazzie Interviews Artist AJ Begay 

Venyaya Yazzie is a Navajo/Hopi Multidisciplinary artist from the eastern region of the Navajo reservation. She works in Tootie acrylic paints and is also a poet and seamstress. She is a board member of the Northwest New Mexico arts Council and strives to educate the community about the cultural people and philosophies of the tribes in the four corners.

Luke is a local mural artist who has worked in many four corners community‘s painting contemporary mural art or what is sometimes referred to as street art for individual businesses and community organizations in Farmington.

An Apache artist from Shiprock New Mexico, Franco is learning to weave in the Navajo tradition. He is a former chef who has traveled many places making wonderful food-Art based on traditional Apache foods.

A Navajo wool artist who specializes Wool Felting and Navajo weaving techniques. She is also the Director of Sheep is Life, non-profit organization and a resident of Shiprock New Mexico.

 Host Venaya Yazzie speaks with Native American artists from throughout the Four Corners Region every 3rd Thursday of the month at 9:30am. This month's guest is Tina Descheenie, a writer, poet, and member of the Diné nation.