Installation by Bert Benally. Photo from New Mexico Arts / Facebook
Installation by Ai Weiwei. Photo from New Mexico Arts / FacebookAn artist from the Navajo Nation and an artist thousands of miles away in China collaborated on a unique public art project in New Mexico. Bert Benally and Ai Weiwei created pieces in Coyote Canyon, a remote part of the reservation, for Pull of the Moon. But since Ai has been banned from leaving China, he participated remotely. The work was part of TIME – Temporary Installations Made for the Environment, a joint effort of the Navajo Nation Museum and New Mexico Arts. Only a handful of people were able to see the installation when it was created last month but two events were held in Santa Fe yesterday to share the results with the public. “Cultural landscape is very important to this project. That is why Coyote Canyon was chosen with its rich history and traditions," Navajo Nation Museum Director Manuelito Wheeler said in a press release. "When art travels to different locations it will carry the power of the initial place with it. One of the objectives of this project is to connect art with cultural landscape." Get the Story:
New Mexico, Navajo Nation team for public art (AP 7/17)
“Pull of the Moon” comes to Santa Fe from the remote Coyote Canyon (The Albuquerque Journal 7/17)
Three offerings capture partnership between Navajo artist and Chinese dissident in Coyote Canyon (The Albuquerque Journal 7/11)
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