About Our Artists
Sabinita Lopez Ortiz
Sabinita Lopez Ortiz is a Living Treasure, a New Mexico Spanish carver from the northern village of Cordova on the High Road to Taos. She is now 85 years old and still producing her distinctive carvings. Her work is in the Smithsonian. She was taught to carve by her uncle, George Lopez when she was a little girl. This nativity by Sabinita has the famous arch with leaves. Little carved birds rest on the leaves. The light wood is aspen. The darker wood is red cedar. The piece is seventeen and a half inches tall.
Sylvia Begaye
Sylvia Begaye is a Navajo artist who lives in Fort Defiance, Arizona. She is very talented. She sells at many shows in the southwest. Susan has sold Sylvia’s work for many years.
Carlton Gallegos
Carlton Gallegos is a Pueblo Indian from Santa Ana Pueblo, close to Bernalillo, New Mexico.Wheat straw appliqué is usually considered a colonial technique from the Spanish. It is often seen at Spanish Market on the plaza in Santa Fe in July. It is sometimes called “Poor Man’s Gold” because it reflects the light. When he realized that there were two elderly men in his pueblo who made wheat straw appliqué crosses, Carlton taught himself how to do it so that the art would not be lost when they died. Carlton is now the only Pueblo Indian who makes them. He flattens the wheat straw, cuts it with precision, and glues the bits of wheat straw to a wooden cross he has painted black. He paints most of the crosses with a touch of turquoise pain and glues a bit of turquoise in the center. The Corn, Sun, Clouds and Rain design seems to be a prayer to grow corn. Carlton grows corn.
Bobby Garcia
This rustic tin cross with a piece of turquoise is made by Bobby Garcia of Chimayo. He says he is using the tin from the old roof of the Santuario de Chimayo. These crosses are popular in Susan’s Christmas Shop. Each cross is seven inches tall and four inches wide.
James & Elyse Simpson
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Alvin and Adrian Leon
Adrian and Alvin Leon are brothers from Acoma Pueblo who make detailed miniature Hopi kachinas. As a guide to the details, both brothers use the book Hopi Kachinas The Complete Guide to Collecting Kachina Dolls by Barton Wright. Each miniature kachina by Adrian or Alvin is authentic. The name ion each kachina is on the bottom of the base
