"Sheltering the Creative Spirit"
Taos, New Mexico USA
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"Sheltering the Creative Spirit"
Taos, New Mexico USA
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September 2011
We encourage all to renew their membership contributions and consider special donations. We have a number of coming projects, including the refurbishing of adobe walls on the tackroom/ barn, which is both historic and functioning as storage space on the Waters property. We also have maintenance of the existing resident artist/writer/musician cabin, and a shepherd's wagon, including Its shower facility. There are also programs being considered for development, including a high school writing contest for which we will need funding and in-kind assistance/direction. Thank you to all who contribute and donate your money, time, energy and thought!
Shepherd residence
Our Gypsy Wagon
Book of the Hopi, 41st Edition
Bay Foundation Grant Early this year our Executive Director, Barbara Waters wrote a grant proposal submitted to the Bay Foundation, which had funded research and writing of the original Book of the Hopi. Word was received early in 2011that Barbara's proposal had been accepted for funding. The proposed use of these funds is to digitize and develop Book of the Hopi background material. Arrangements will be made to provide access to these materials on–line. The original transcripts were made by White Bear and his wife, Naomi. A group of video tapes will also be digitized. These video interviews with Frank and Barbara Waters and Craig Stuart discuss the making of the book and its importance to people today, including young Hopis and researchers. We hope that making the book's background material more readily available to those interested, will promote continued thought and discussion. The Foundation is grateful for the opportunity to do this work and, of course, thanks the Bay Foundation. We are also very grateful to Brent Scott for his most valuable input and effort and to Craig Stuart in Sedona for his interview time and ongoing assistance. Our gratitude is also extended to the staff at the University of New Mexico's Southwest Research Center which holds a collection of materials related to Frank Waters' writing of Book of the Hopi This grant will be matched with funds, dollar donations and in-kind donation by the Foundation. We remain thankful to any interested in participating.
Book of the Hopi, uncorrected proof ________________________________ Commentary Mark Rossi I remember my first introduction to the writing of Frank Waters. Prior to a field trip with my senior year high school art teacher, Olivia Hogue; Olivia pointed toward books on her shelf... Frank's Book of the Hopi and Carlos Casteneda's The Teachings of Don Juan. While Book of the Hopi is the most printed of Waters' writing; twenty six of his books remain in print today.
Pages from the Book of the Hopi
Book of the Hopi in all of its editions is filled with illustrations, both drawn and photographed. It is wonderfully readable despite the huge bulk of information imparted. And it soon will be 50 years since it was first assembled and published - - half a century ago! Frank Waters consistently stated that he had included everything he had learned about the subject in Book of the Hopi and his journal narrative, Pumpkin Seed Point. In forwards to these books, readers will find Frank's strong concerns about the necessity for all people to bring to their own consciousness the deepest parts of each culture's relationship with the Earth and the Cosmos from which unified humanity evolved. ___________
_____________ Leslie Marmon Silko and Bill Orzen Event at Mark Rossi's Studio in Tucson, Arizona In December last year, the Frank Waters Foundation hosted an exhibit and reading by Leslie Marmon Silko from Leslie's newest book The Turquoise Ledge. The exhibit included paintings and decorated gourds by Leslie and paintings with stick constructions by Bill Orzen, friend of Leslie and the Waters Foundation. We are particularly proud to note that this is the first public showing by Leslie of her own art. The event was well attended with standing room only for Leslies's book reading, discussion, and art presentation. Bill's paintings most often show either interior or exterior scenes of buildings and homes. His stick assemblies are both abstract and figurative.
Link to Alfonso Elias photos. thanks Altonso Elias for your fine photographic contribution! ______________________
Following are written contributions by friends of the Foundation. We welcome writing and illustration from all for consideration to include here in our newsletters as we look forward to a future expansion to a literary journal and continued book publication. Please find on our website information concerning purchase of the Frank Waters Foundation's two published books. Arleeta Viddaurri’s Heritage: In 1900, by Act of U.S. Congress, land of the Comanche reservation was allotted to all males of the tribe. Each allotment was 160 acres. After tribe members picked their allotments, often close to chosen allotments of family members and close associates, the remaining land was open to homesteading by white settlers. My father, Lee Viddaurri, was allotted land near a town today called Lone Wolf. Since my father's passing in 2002, this land has been owned jointly by my five sisters and me. We understand that this is the last piece of original Comanche allotment land still in ownership of family of the original allotment holder. In 1958 a forty acre parcel was sold by our father to finance moving our family to St. Louis, where I was born. We soon moved back to Oklahoma and lived in Tulsa where our father was able to find work. Since our family moved from the wood frame house on this land, the remaining 120 acres has been leased for farming and grazing.
Bullshit
sunlight sparkles on the nearly dried up pond muck
we walk along in a fine line of still reserve in our attempt to remember what we never knew but hoped to know
an old can here a nail there a board old and weathered shows promise
meadow muffins draw our attention to how the past is long gone
daddy never had a bull on this farm or even a cow yet the droppings speak
we walk among them in solitude trying to ignore the flies that seem desperate to convince us we were once part of this
Arleeta Viddaurri ©3/06/2011
__________________ The following contributed by Brent Scott.
A HOPI Is one whose lifetime quest is to gain strength and wisdom through prayer, education and experience, to acquire a practical and spiritual understanding of life in general and to acquire the ability to address life circumstances and community needs from an eagle’s viewpoint with a caring attitude and humility; A HOPI Is one who places the society’s and / or community’s interest and benefits above individual and personal interests and gains; A HOPI Is one who understands that “Kyavtsi” means to maintain the highest degree of respect for and obedience to the moral standards of ethics, so as not to knowingly abuse, alter or oppose the progressive order, cycle of nature and the sacred manifestations of the creator’s teachings; A HOPI Is one who understands that “Sumi’nangwa” means to come together to do things for the benefit of all, out of a compelling desire and commitment to contribute or return something of value to society; A HOPI Is one who understands that “Nami’nangwa” means to help one another (or give aid) in times of need, without having to be asked to do so and without expecting compensation for the deed; A HOPI Is one who understands that “Hita’nangwa” means to have the initiative to take care of something without having to be instructed, asked or reminded, regardless if anyone will notice your effort, and knows that it will make a difference; A HOPI Is one who understands that “Pasi’nangwa” means to have characteristic qualities of humility, modesty, patience, etc., and to possess the ability to think things through carefully and thoroughly before reacting to and voicing opinion on issues; A HOPI Is one who understands that the creator has provided all the necessary things needed by all living beings to co-exist here, including the means by which the human race can achieve a happy, healthy and self-sustaining life; A HOPI Is one who understands that to realize a dream come true, one must not only pray for his/her desires, but also must make a sincere commitment and work diligently to pursue the dream (goal) until it is achieved; A HOPI Is one who understands that the greatest feeling of accomplishment and fulfillment of one’s individual participation in the society / community functions and activities is knowing that your contributions have resulted in benefits to the community and its people.
Author Unknown __________________
Medicinal Plant Workshop
Our Medicinal Plant Workshop in August last year led by Rob Hawley, of Taos Herb, was well attended and was a great success! We hope to continue with similar workshops as we also intend to expand our BioBlitz activity with more during additional seasons of the year.
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More coming!
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