Harrison Begay facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Harrison Begay
Born	Haashké yah Níyá c. 15 November 1917 Whitecone, Arizona, U.S.
Died	2012 Gilbert, Arizona, U.S.
Other names	Haskay Yahne Yah
Education	Santa Fe Indian School Black Mountain College, Phoenix Junior College
Spouse(s)	Ramona Espinosa (1940–1945, ended due to divorce)

Harrison Begay, also known as Haashké yah Níyá, was a famous Diné (Navajo) painter. His Navajo name means "Warrior Who Walked Up to His Enemy" or "Wandering Boy." He was born around November 15, 1917, and passed away on August 18, 2012.

Begay was known for his beautiful watercolor paintings, gouache, and silkscreen prints. He was the last living student of famous art teachers Dorothy Dunn and Geronima C. Montoya. They taught at the Santa Fe Indian School. His artwork has won many awards and is shown in museums and private collections around the world. He was one of the most famous Diné artists of his generation.

Early Life and Art Education

Harrison Begay was born around November 15, 1917, in Whitecone, Arizona. Some records say he was born in 1914. His parents were Black Rock and Zonnie/Ah-Hin Nil-bah. He grew up in a traditional Navajo home called a hogan. There, he helped take care of goats and sheep.

In 1934, he went to the Santa Fe Indian School to study art. He joined the "Studio School" there, where Dorothy Dunn was his teacher. His classmates included other well-known artists like Gerald Nailor and Quincy Tahoma. Begay learned Dunn's special "Studio Style" of painting. This style is also called "Flatstyle."

Dorothy Dunn described Begay's art as "decorative and lifelike." She said his colors were clear and his figures were calm but full of life. Begay was one of the best students at the Studio School.

During the Great Depression, Begay worked for the Federal Art Project. This project helped artists find work. He painted large pictures called murals.

Begay used many different art materials during his career. These included gouache, watercolor, and silkscreen painting. He also did commercial illustrations. Most of his artworks showed scenes from Diné (Navajo) life. He also painted images of nature.

In 1940, he married Ramona Espinosa. From 1940 to 1941, Begay studied architecture at Black Mountain College in North Carolina. He received a scholarship for this. After that, he continued his studies at Phoenix Junior College.

Art Career and Military Service

From 1942 to 1945, Begay served in the US Army during World War II. He was part of the Signal Corps. He served in Germany, Iceland, the Czech Republic, and other parts of Europe. Begay even took part in the D-Day landing at Normandy Beachhead. He was honorably discharged in 1945 and returned to Santa Fe.

In his early artwork, Begay often painted scenes of hunting and war. However, after his difficult experiences in World War II, he stopped painting these kinds of images.

In 1945, Begay and his wife divorced. He also faced financial problems and found it hard to sell his art. He traveled to Colorado and studied with artist Gerard Curtis Delano. He returned to Arizona in 1947.

In the 1950s, more people became interested in Begay's art. Art critics often called his style "Native American Traditionalism." They praised his work for being pure, calm, and simple.

In 1951, Begay helped start a printing company called Tewa Enterprises in Santa Fe. He started it with another artist, Charles Barrows. This company helped Begay and other Native American artists share their art with many people. Begay actively helped prepare his art for printing. His flat shapes, fine lines, and clear colors made his paintings easy to turn into prints. These prints were affordable, which made Begay's art popular in America and Europe. Tewa Enterprises was one of the first companies to promote Native American artists in this way.

Begay was good friends with Quincy Tahoma, another artist from the Studio School. When Tahoma passed away in 1956, Begay was very sad. In 1959, Begay moved to the Navajo Nation Reservation. He wanted to be closer to his family and community.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Begay lived on the Navajo Nation Reservation. He continued to create and sell paintings and prints. His work from this time showed everyday scenes, animals, and natural places. He especially liked painting horses, colts, deer, and fawns. His art was so successful that he could support himself and his family.

Collectors described Begay’s work as showing a "timeless, peaceful and gentle world." They felt he captured the beauty of the Navajo way of life. Some people thought his paintings were too sweet or idealized. They sometimes called them "Disney art." However, others praised his art's soft tone and peaceful style. They found it inventive, original, refined, delicate, and detailed.

Death and Lasting Impact

Harrison Begay passed away on August 18, 2012, in Gilbert, Arizona. He was 95 years old. He was buried in the Veterans Cemetery in Fort Defiance, Arizona.

Begay’s artwork is part of many public museum collections. These include the Montclair Art Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian, and the Museum of Modern Art. His art is also in the Heard Museum, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, and the Philbrook Museum.

Art Shows

• 2009–2010 – "Through Their Eyes: Paintings from the Santa Fe Indian School," Wheelwright Museum
• 2005 – "Beautiful Resistance: Works on Paper from the Heard Museum Collection," Heard Museum
• 2004 – "Beneath A Turquoise Sky: Navajo Painters and Their World," National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Awards and Honors

• 1954 – Officier d’Academie, Ordre des Palmes Académiques. This award was given by the French government.
• 1967, 1969, and 1971 – Three grand awards at the Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial in Gallup, New Mexico.
• 1969 – First prize at the Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial.
• 1970 – Honorable mention at the Philbrook Museum annual show.
• 1995 – Native American Masters Award by the Heard Museum.
• 2003 – Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SAIA).

See also

In Spanish: Harrison Begay para niños

• Quincy Tahoma, Begay’s friend and fellow artist
• Santa Fe Indian School