The Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts and the Institute of American Indian Arts were pleased to present a public conversation and demonstration by IAIA artists-in-residence Royce Manuel (Ak-Mierl Aw-Thum, Salt River Pima- Maricopa Indian Community) and Debbie Manuel, MSW (Dine) on March 15, 2015 at the Ralph T. Coe Center space.
Royce Manuel with a student
Royce has long worked in crafting traditional, functional bows and arrows and leading workshops and presentations to share this art form with his community. Gaining local and national support for this work, Royce Manuel has spent decades guiding younger generations to appreciate such traditions. In 2006, Royce and Debbie joined together in their life’s journey. Together, the Manuels bridge art and science, using traditional knowledge about plants and animals, woodworking skills, and physics to create functional bows and arrows. In recent years the Manuels have worked to single-handedly save the ability to weave the kiaha, or traditional Pima burden basket woven from agave, from extinction.
The Manuels presented a conversation and demonstration to our visitors explaining, as well as showing, the importance of these skills and materials.
The IAIA Artist-in-Residence Program provides opportunities for Native and First Nations artists from the selected regions to come to the Institute of American Indian Arts campus in Santa Fe, New Mexico for a month of art-making and interaction with IAIA students, staff/faculty, and the Santa Fe arts community. Applicants whose work engages with cultural traditions through materials, techniques and/or subject matter are particularly encouraged to apply. The Coe Center is honored to a partner with IAIA and the IAIA Artist-in-Residence Program.
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