The loss of great Native American artist, R.C. Gorman, hits
locally
As a member
of the Daniel Webster College community, I was thrilled to
learn a year ago last spring that internationally-renowned
artist R.C. Gorman would be exhibiting in our Eaton-Richmond
Center Gallery and the recipient of an honorary degree at
our 2004 commencement.
For those
unfamiliar with Daniel Webster College, we not only do not
have an art department, but tend to bring to visual artists
of local and regional reputation. R.C. Gorman. This was BIG.
So very big, in fact, because Gorman never held an exhibit
anywhere in New England — not one of New England's
metropolitan cities, with their thriving artist districts,
has ever had
the good fortune that was coming our way.
How did a
small New England College, with its roots in aviation and
day student population about 500, attract an artist of such
caliber to exhibit and participate in a public reception? At
Daniel Webster, we are very fortunate to have a diverse
board of trustees who individually have many interests,
participate in distinctive activities, and often know
eminent professionals, both in their fields of expertise and
in the greater world community. Such was one of our
trustees, whose daughter graduated Daniel Webster in 1995
with a degree in aviation flight operations. Through the
years, he and his wife had admired the work of and became
personal friends with Gorman, who had been hailed by
The New York Times
as “The Picasso of American Indian Art.” Although in his 70s
and not in the very best of health, Gorman graciously
accepted the trustee’s and the college’s invitation for an
exhibit, public reception, and receiving an honorary degree.
I was
overwhelmed by the expansiveness, the colors, the beauty,
and the spirituality of his work even before I met him that
May. From the R.C. Gorman Navajo Gallery in Taos, NM, 20
pieces arrived on Daniel Webster’s doorstep: silk screens,
paintings, etchings, a full-size bronze statue, and paper
casts arrived by truck to be set up in our Gallery. Opening
each individual wooden crate took my breath away. His love
for his Navajo people, his respect for nurturing women, his
connection with the land in which he grew up came through
immediately.
I was even
more amazed at the hundreds of individuals who traveled from
near and far (very far, in some cases) to meet R.C. Gorman
at the public reception, standing in line for a very long
time, clutching their personal Gorman piece, be it a small
postcard or print, for him to sign and to take a few moments
to speak with him, something he did with everyone. He drew
professionals, art enthusiasts, and working citizens; his
works “spoke” to all of them. At the conclusion of the
reception, it was when he signed a poster for me that read
“To my sister, Annette,” that my heart was captured.
During the
weekend he was with us at Daniel Webster, my connection with
Gorman grew; perhaps it was his down-to-earth presence,
complete with colorful bandana, as well as his need for
physical assistance at times, which we were all happy to
give — all of this endeared him to me.
I was
captivated by R.C. Gorman, the person, and it was with tears
that I bid him goodbye that Saturday following commencement
and with great sadness that I recognize his passing November
3rd. His legacy of bringing beautiful interpretations of
Navajo and Asian women to the world, the spirituality he
included in his life, his intentional inclusiveness that all
people should enjoy his art, and his gentleness of nature
will be remembered by so many. The Daniel Webster College
and Greater Nashua communities were fortunate to have met
the man and his art.
Annette
Kurman
Director of Public Relations
Daniel Webster College
