Dorothy Dunn
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Dunn Kramer was an American art instructor who created The Studio School at the Santa Fe Indian School
.
and educated in Chicago. She first encountered Native American art at the Field Museum in Chicago in 1925. In 1928, Dunn traveled to New Mexico
for the first time, where she taught second grade at the Santo Domingo Pueblo Day School, located south of Santa Fe. She learned quickly from her young Pueblo students that many features of their culture were taboo to draw or paint. In 1930, she moved to Shiprock, New Mexico
to teach at the San Juan Boarding School at the Northern Navajo
Agency. She finally returned to Chicago in 1931 to complete her degree at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
and Alfonso Roybal painted murals at the school to welcome the young artists.
Among her students were Allan Houser
, Ben Quintana, Harrison Begay
, Joe Hilario Herrera, Quincy Tahoma
, Andrew Tsinajinnie, Pablita Velarde
, Eva Mirabel, Pop Chalee
, Oscar Howe
, Geronima Cruz Montoya, and Narcisco Abeyta.
Engaged to fellow teacher Max Kramer and overwhelmed by conflicts with the school administration, Dunn resigned in the spring of 1937. Geronima Cruz Montoya (Ohkay Owingeh) replaced her as director and served until the Studio closed in 1962, when the Institute of American Indian Arts
was established.
(Ho-Chunk
) at the beginning of the 20th century. Dunn taught the most basic fundamentals of painting while deliberately refraining from teaching life drawing, perspective, or color theory. Her student body initially came from the Rio Grande and Western Pueblos, and the Plains tribes
. Each year the classes grew and represented a greater number of tribes. By 1937, the final year that Dunn taught at the Studio, enrollment in the program was 170.
The style she taught featured heavily outlined flat fields of color, illustrative and narrative portrayals of ceremonies, dance, and mythology, painted primarily in opaque watercolors. Dunn taught a single style of painting influenced by the work of the San Ildefonso
painters of the 1910s and 1920s – "a style that she believed, rightly or wrongly, was the only authentic painting style for Native American
artists to follow." The style she advocated, called the "Studio Style" or "flat-style painting", was inspired by Pueblo mural
and pottery painting, Plains hide painting
, and rock art
.
Dunn's strict adherence to a single style of painting has been widely criticized, especially from within the Native American community. Celebrated Chiricahua Apache sculptor, Allan Houser
said, "she trained us all the same way... Her style lacked originality and creativity." However, many of her students appreciated her efforts. Geronima Montoya said that Dunn "did a lot for us. She made us realized how important our own Indian ways were, because we had been made to feel ashamed of them. She gave us something we could be proud of."
and curated and judging art shows in the United States, Belgium, Italy, and Finland. She published 18 scholarly articles in the 1950s. The government of France named her an Officier d'Académie in 1954, and the School of American Research named her an Honorary Associate. The Indian Arts and Crafts Board awarded her a certification of appreciation in 1962.
In 1968, she published the book, American Indian Painting of the Southwest and Plains Areas.
Her collection of paintings was donated to the Museum of New Mexico
in the 1970s. In 1992, Dunn's daughter, Ethel Kramer, donated her papers – scholarly and personal – to that museum.
from Alzheimer's disease
. She was buried in San Gorgonio Memorial Park in Banning, California
.
Santa Fe Indian School
The Santa Fe Indian School is a secondary school in Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States. It was founded in 1890 as a boarding school for Native American children from the state's Indian pueblos. But in the course of its history, the school has also served as a major cultural catalyst for the...
.
Background
Dunn was born on 2 December 1903 in Pottawatomie County, KansasPottawatomie County, Kansas
Pottawatomie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 21,604. The county seat is Westmoreland. The county takes its name from the Potawatomi tribe of Native Americans...
and educated in Chicago. She first encountered Native American art at the Field Museum in Chicago in 1925. In 1928, Dunn traveled to New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
for the first time, where she taught second grade at the Santo Domingo Pueblo Day School, located south of Santa Fe. She learned quickly from her young Pueblo students that many features of their culture were taboo to draw or paint. In 1930, she moved to Shiprock, New Mexico
Shiprock, New Mexico
Shiprock is a census-designated place in San Juan County, New Mexico, United States, on the Navajo reservation. The population was 8,156 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Farmington Metropolitan Statistical Area....
to teach at the San Juan Boarding School at the Northern Navajo
Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
Agency. She finally returned to Chicago in 1931 to complete her degree at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
The Studio School
While completing her degree, Dunn outlined plans to teach art in the Civil Service at the Santa Fe Indian School and submitted her proposal to the superintendent Chester Faris. She was given a position teaching fifth grade with a half-day to teach art to older students. The Studio School thus opened on 9 September 1932. Established Native artists Julian MartinezJulian Martinez
Julian Martinez, also known as Pacano, was a Native American potter and the patriarch of the most important family of Native American artisans in the United States. Born on the San Ildefonso Pueblo in New Mexico, Martinez was instrumental in reviving the black San Ildefonso pottery and Santa Clara...
and Alfonso Roybal painted murals at the school to welcome the young artists.
Among her students were Allan Houser
Allan Houser
Allan Capron Houser or Haozous a Chiricahua Apache sculptor from Oklahoma. He was one of the most renowned Native American painters and Modernist sculptors of the 20th century....
, Ben Quintana, Harrison Begay
Harrison Begay
Harrison Begay , is a renowned Navajo painter, perhaps the most famous of his generation. Begay specializes in watercolors and silkscreen prints. He is the oldest living former student of Dorothy Dunn at the Santa Fe Indian School...
, Joe Hilario Herrera, Quincy Tahoma
Quincy Tahoma
Quincy Tahoma was a Navajo painter from Arizona and New Mexico.-Youth:Quincy Tahoma was born near Tuba City, Arizona in 1920. Tahoma means "Water Edge.'As a young boy he became familiar with many religious and traditional chants and rituals...
, Andrew Tsinajinnie, Pablita Velarde
Pablita Velarde
Pablita Velarde born Tse Tsan was an American painter.-Early life:After the death of her mother when Pablita was about five years old, she and two of her sisters were sent to St Catherine's Indian School in Santa Fe...
, Eva Mirabel, Pop Chalee
Pop Chalee
Pop Chalee, also known as Merina Lujan , was an American painter, muralist, performer, and singer.-The early years:Pop Chalee was born Merina Lujan on March 20, 1906 in Castle Gate, Utah. Her father, Joseph Cruz Lujan was from Taos and her mother Merea Margherete Luenberger, was predominately Swiss...
, Oscar Howe
Oscar Howe
Oscar Howe was an American artist from South Dakota, who became well known for his casein paintings.-Early life and education:...
, Geronima Cruz Montoya, and Narcisco Abeyta.
Engaged to fellow teacher Max Kramer and overwhelmed by conflicts with the school administration, Dunn resigned in the spring of 1937. Geronima Cruz Montoya (Ohkay Owingeh) replaced her as director and served until the Studio closed in 1962, when the Institute of American Indian Arts
Institute of American Indian Arts
The Institute of American Indian Arts is a college focused on Native American art. It is situated in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is congressionally chartered, and was created by an executive order of former American President John F. Kennedy in 1962...
was established.
Style
Dunn believed that her students had an innate artistic ability, a belief widely promoted by Native American art teacher Angel De CoraAngel De Cora
Angel De Cora Dietz was a Winnebago painter, illustrator, Native American rights advocate, and teacher at Carlisle Indian School. She was the best known Native American artist before World War I.-Background:...
(Ho-Chunk
Ho-Chunk
The Ho-Chunk, also known as Winnebago, are a tribe of Native Americans, native to what is now Wisconsin and Illinois. There are two federally recognized Ho-Chunk tribes, the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin and Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska....
) at the beginning of the 20th century. Dunn taught the most basic fundamentals of painting while deliberately refraining from teaching life drawing, perspective, or color theory. Her student body initially came from the Rio Grande and Western Pueblos, and the Plains tribes
Plains Indians
The Plains Indians are the Indigenous peoples who live on the plains and rolling hills of the Great Plains of North America. Their colorful equestrian culture and resistance to White domination have made the Plains Indians an archetype in literature and art for American Indians everywhere.Plains...
. Each year the classes grew and represented a greater number of tribes. By 1937, the final year that Dunn taught at the Studio, enrollment in the program was 170.
The style she taught featured heavily outlined flat fields of color, illustrative and narrative portrayals of ceremonies, dance, and mythology, painted primarily in opaque watercolors. Dunn taught a single style of painting influenced by the work of the San Ildefonso
San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico
San Ildefonso Pueblo is a census-designated place in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States. It is part of the Santa Fe, New Mexico Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 458 at the 2000 census...
painters of the 1910s and 1920s – "a style that she believed, rightly or wrongly, was the only authentic painting style for Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
artists to follow." The style she advocated, called the "Studio Style" or "flat-style painting", was inspired by Pueblo mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
and pottery painting, Plains hide painting
Plains hide painting
Plains hide painting is a traditional Plains Indian artistic practice of painting on either tanned or raw animal hides. Tipis, tipi liners, shields, parfleches, robes, clothing, drums, and winter counts could all be painted.-Genres:...
, and rock art
Rock art
Rock art is a term used in archaeology for any human-made markings made on natural stone. They can be divided into:*Petroglyphs - carvings into stone surfaces*Pictographs - rock and cave paintings...
.
Dunn's strict adherence to a single style of painting has been widely criticized, especially from within the Native American community. Celebrated Chiricahua Apache sculptor, Allan Houser
Allan Houser
Allan Capron Houser or Haozous a Chiricahua Apache sculptor from Oklahoma. He was one of the most renowned Native American painters and Modernist sculptors of the 20th century....
said, "she trained us all the same way... Her style lacked originality and creativity." However, many of her students appreciated her efforts. Geronima Montoya said that Dunn "did a lot for us. She made us realized how important our own Indian ways were, because we had been made to feel ashamed of them. She gave us something we could be proud of."
Later career
Dunn applied and was rejected for employment by the Indian Arts and Crafts Board. She lectured about Native American artNative American art
Visual arts by indigenous peoples of the Americas encompasses the visual artistic traditions of the indigenous peoples of the Americas from ancient times to the present...
and curated and judging art shows in the United States, Belgium, Italy, and Finland. She published 18 scholarly articles in the 1950s. The government of France named her an Officier d'Académie in 1954, and the School of American Research named her an Honorary Associate. The Indian Arts and Crafts Board awarded her a certification of appreciation in 1962.
In 1968, she published the book, American Indian Painting of the Southwest and Plains Areas.
Her collection of paintings was donated to the Museum of New Mexico
Museum of New Mexico
The Museum of New Mexico consists of six separate institutions in Santa Fe, New Mexico, including :* New Mexico Museum of Art* Palace of the Governors* Museum of Indian Arts & Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology* Museum of International Folk Art...
in the 1970s. In 1992, Dunn's daughter, Ethel Kramer, donated her papers – scholarly and personal – to that museum.
Death
She died on 5 July 1992 in Mountain View, CaliforniaMountain View, California
-Downtown:Mountain View has a pedestrian-friendly downtown centered on Castro Street. The downtown area consists of the seven blocks of Castro Street from the Downtown Mountain View Station transit center in the north to the intersection with El Camino Real in the south...
from Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
. She was buried in San Gorgonio Memorial Park in Banning, California
Banning, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Banning had a population of 29,603. The population density was 1,281.6 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Banning was 19,164 White, 2,165 African American, 641 Native American, 1,549 Asian, 39 Pacific Islander, 4,604 from other...
.