Artist Focus
Molly Heizer
C
onsidered a significant contributor to
American folk art, Molly Heizer creates
ceramic sculptures that pay creative
homage to the symbols and characters found
in Native American history. Her exploration
of the Southwest’s high desert country has led
her to a captivating fascination with ancient
Indian cultures and their long-held spiritual
beliefs. Heizer has researched the Native
civilizations and studied their one-of-a-kind
rock art along with the creative displays of
their descendants, the Pueblo Indians.
Ancient Native American art has always
told a story—it has been a creative and
oft-beautiful means of expression and
communication. Similarly, Heizer’s present-day interpretations of the ancient art tell a
story. The artist creates folk animals, adorned
with designs of the Southwest. She also
crafts kachinas, which she often turns into
totem poles that can range from 2 to 10 feet
in height. Each figure on her totems tells a
wise and whimsical story of animal unity and
symbolism, handwritten on these works of art.
The stories teach the viewer many things;
whether it’s to remember to enjoy the simple
things in life or to always protect the sacred
earth. Heizer’s ultimate goal, however, is to
put a smile on the viewer’s face—to bring the
viewer as much joy through experiencing the
final version of her craft as she experiences
during the creation process.Canyon Road Contemporary presents Native
and Nature: The Kachinas and Animals by
Molly Heizer. An artist demo happens August
16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. followed by the
reception through 7 p.m. The show runs until
August 25.Want to See More?
Represented by Canyon Road
Contemporary Art
622 Canyon Road | Santa Fe,
NM 87501 | (505) 983-0433
http://www.canyoncontemporary.com/canyoncontemporaryMagical Things Happen,
Five Mudheads, ceramic
86 x 18 x 18”Summertime, Four
Koshari, ceramic,
18 x 18 x 18”Koshari on Zebra, ceramic, 18 x 14½ x 7½”Artist Focus