All Kiva Artists
Kiva Fine Art
El Centro de Santa Fe
102 East Water Street
Santa Fe, NM 87501505-820-7413
505-820-7414 (fax)
info@kivaindianart.com
Santiago Rivera
" 'I AM!' is the timeless shout of my people, the Mescalero Apache Indians; a shout which preserves our honor, glory, and distinction in the annals of history.
In essence, I shout 'I AM!' through my artwork. I contemplate the survival of my ancestors. I respect their epic journey. I recount their stories. And above all, I create art which embodies their spirit.
Creating has been my voice and my salvation. It has been my friend and confidante. It is the way I exalt the histories of my ancestors. Carved in glass, my contemporary artwork reflects the fragility of my people’s noble past. My emblazoned designs shout 'I AM!' of my people.
The Gaan Series stands as a sentinel for the decay of a once proud people. As I contemplate the history, artwork, stories, and emotions of my ancestors, mental images surface from voices of the past. I believe these messages can enlighten the future. Captured in mixed media, the Gaan Series is befitting of a proud people who utilized 'Mother Earth' to gain sustenance in every form--love, art, food and shelter.
Gaans watch over ceremonial processions and shroud the innocent from evil. Each Gaan in this stately series stares in mute remembrance of a forgotten era—an age when we celebrated life, braved its struggles, and readily communed with the shadows of our ancestors. Imparting wisdom culled of the ancients they remain as guides to protect us from ourselves to bridge the struggles of the past with the challenges of the present. I am honored to be a unifying instrument in this quest."