Eyes of an in-law
Eric Kanuho discusses with Ron Kinsel the Navajo Code Talker pictured in the photo taken by Kenji Kawano during Kawano's opening night of 40 Years with the Navajo Part 2. (Times photo – Terry Bowman)
Kawano exhibit traces history through photos
WINDOW ROCK
The history of the Navajo People can be told in many ways, usually from our grandparents, U.S. history books and television; but now from an in-law.
Diné artist Patrick Begay converses in Navajo with Navajo Code Talker John Kinsel about his experiences during the war and the use of the Navajo Code. (Times photo – Terry Bowman)
Kenji Kawano opened the second part of his exhibit titled “40 Years with the Navajo” at the Navajo Nation Museum in Window Rock last Thursday evening. The exhibit features around 60 newly displayed photographs in black and white that depict the different shades of Navajo lifestyles from 2002 to 2015.
“It’s not just art, it’s history,” said Navajo artist Patrick Begay of Pinedale, N.M.
Begay came to the event to support Kawano after the photographer recently took photos of his pottery and fetish carvings.
“They need to take in their history, they say if the history is lost then the people are lost,” added Begay, who considers Kawano a friend.
With Vice-President Johnathan Nez, former Navajo President Peterson Zah and Navajo Code Talker John Kinsel in attendance, the crowd of around 80 people that gathered to see the exhibit were in awe.
“I’m very grateful to live here,” said Kawano, 66, to the crowd that had gathered to see his work of 40 years.
One photograph showed Navajo Code Talkers waving during a parade; another showed a young Navajo student supporting President Barack Obama’s campaign in 2008.
Kawano briefly thanked the people who have supported him though his 40 years on the Navajo Nation, mentioning that he came from Japan in 1974 at the age of 24 and knew very little about the Native Americans.
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Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow