Prescott Indian Art Market 2010

Please join us for the 2010 Prescott Indian Art Market the weekend of July 10-11.

This year's featured artist is Randy Keedah, the self-taught Navajo artist who specializes in Western, American Indian, and Southwestern fine art. Keedah's biography is included below.

The Prescott Indian Art Market typically features both traditional and contemporary works of art, including distinctive jewelry, exquisite ceramics, sculpture, hand-woven baskets and blankets. An all-Indian artist jury chooses participants on the basis of quality in both traditional and contemporary styles.

Stroll among demonstrators of American Indian weaving, Katsina carving, silversmithing, and the making of baskets. Entertainment by Native American dancers, singers, and musicians is featured in the Amphitheater. Also popular is the Navajo Fry Bread.

Additional details of the 2010 event will be posted as soon as they are available.

Questions? Contact:
Sandy Lynch, Market Manager
928/445-3122 x28
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Featured Artist Randy Keedah

Randlett “Randy” Keedah (Kits’iilii Bitsóí)*

Self-taught Navajo Artist

Specializing in Western, American Indian, & Southwestern Fine Art

Recipient of the Southwest Art Magazine’s Award for an Artist to Watch

Randy was born in a hogan near Steamboat, Arizona by the Balakai Mesa on the Navajo Reservation in 1951, to the Black-Streaked-Wood People Clan for the Red-Bottoms People Clan. He was raised on his maternal grandparents’ sheep ranch, in the home of his birth. He was working like a man by the young age of seven, out on the land with the horses and tending sheep. He also hauled wood and water with horse and wagon since there was no electricity or running water. This complete familiarity, love, and respect of Mother Earth, the American Indian people, and real western life shows in each piece Randy creates.

Randy’s grandfather was a leader in the community, and he wanted Randy to become an attorney so he could help the Navajo people, but Randy wanted to be an artist. In the evenings, after all had worked a long day, Randy’s uncle would lie on the floor and sleep while Randy, using a ball-point pen, drew pictures on his stomach, chest and back. At the age of seven, Randy was sent to a local boarding school, where art class was his favorite; he occasionally got into trouble when teachers in other classes found him drawing horses during class.

Randy could see and draw everything three-dimensional from a very young age. At the age of 14, Randy was sent to an off-reservation Indian boarding high school in Brigham City, Utah. His art teacher let him sit in the back of class to paint or draw special projects, while she taught everyone else the basics of art. As a freshman, Randy was honored with the award of Outstanding Art Student of the Year. He was the first freshman at the school to receive this honor. He was one of five students selected from his school to go to Washington, D.C. to paint various art projects in the Bureau of Indian Affairs building. While at high school, he found a book of Charles Russell’s art and fell in love with his art. Randy knew then that he wanted to be a realistic western artist. Later, he discovered the works of Bill Owen on the cover of Western Horseman magazine and was so amazed by his beautiful colors and technique that he set a goal of becoming as great an artist as Bill.

While still in high school, Randy and his high-school girlfriend started a family and were married before he had the opportunity to further his education. Being unable to support his family as an artist, at the age of 21 Randy accepted a job in Mississippi as a welder apprentice. Welding became his vocation and financial support for his family. As a construction welder he traveled to where the work was and studied the land in locations all over the western U.S.

Often working away from home, his life took a downward spiral before he realized that art was in him waiting to come out. After his first marriage ended in divorce, his second wife, Coleen, helped him find the courage and strength to begin working toward his goal of being a great western artist. After 30 years, Randy was finally able to leave his welding job and paint full-time, pushing himself to fulfill his dreams.

He paints the memories and feelings of his life, from his heart and mind.

Every year Randy and Coleen return home to the Balakai Mesa to paint for several weeks and catch up with family and friends. The peace that he has now found in his life shines through in all of his beautiful works of art, such as "Time To Visit the Neighbors" at right.

Randy’s outstanding pencil sketches and sculptures come naturally for him. He finds oil painting more of a challenge and enjoys working with the colors. He still loves to paint horses but also enjoys painting a variety of subjects. He always wanted a daughter of his own, but never had one, so he paints the precious Navajo girls. It is very important to him to make the Native Americans look like real Native Americans.

Since Randy never had the privilege of being trained at art school, he practiced and studied on his own. Art literally pours from his heart and mind. He is a kind and caring man who paints only peaceful and happy scenes. All of his paintings look so real and lifelike that you feel you are actually there. Randy still strives to reach his goal and be recognized among the great western artists.

Randy Keedah

11311 W. Picture Rocks Rd.

Tucson, AZ 85743

(520) 404-0403

www.KeedahsArt.com

*Kits’iilii Bitsóí means Grandson of the archeologist. Randy’s grandfather would find pots and pottery from the Anasazi’s all over their land. People referred to him as Kits’iilii.