January 2009
CPM January 2009
Untitled painting (Deer) artist: Beatien Yazz (Diné/Navajo)
Gouache on paper
Gift of the Estate of Mrs. Robert Wilson
Dimensions: H:17 ¾” W: 20 ¼”
86.2.64
Some artists use their talent and ambition to get their “big break.” They seek out business contacts and sell their work to others, hoping to be noticed. Though young Jimmy Toddy did not advertise his talent, he and his work certainly were noticed. Jimmy was born in 1928,* and as a boy, he lived near the Wide Ruins Trading Post in northern Arizona where his father worked as a handy man. Jimmy was a creative child who often drew pictures of desert scenes and animals with crayons and scraps of paper. Impressed by Jimmy’s imaginative drawings, Trading Post owners Sallie and Bill Lippincott encouraged his artistic endeavors. The couple even set up a small corner of the Trading Post for Jimmy to use as a studio, knowing that visitors would enjoy his unique drawing style. By the time he was 12, his drawings were so popular that they were exhibited at the Art Center in La Jolla, California and the Illinois State Museum.
During this period, a friend of the Lippincott’s, Peter Blos, a frequent visitor who often came to northern Arizona to paint, made a big impression on Jimmy. Blos often worked bare- chested, earning him the Navajo nickname “Beatien” (No Shirt). Because Blos and Jimmy often spent time together during these trips, Jimmy, became known as Beatien Yazz (Little No Shirt).
During World War II, Yazz joined the Marine Corps as one of the famed Navajo Code Talkers. While with the occupying forces in China, he was exposed to oriental art and the unique style intrigued him. After the war, Yazz attended several art schools and studied different techniques, yet he always preferred to create art on his own terms.
Many of Yazz’s works are influenced by the Santa Fe Studio style, introduced during the 1930s by teacher Dorothy Dunn at the Santa Fe Indian School. Rather than suppressing cultural heritage which was the norm at the time, Dunn encouraged Native American artists to develop unique and marketable artworks based on their cultural traditions. She was inspired by the ancient wall paintings and rock art, and felt that the flat-art style represented a more authentic representation of Native American style. Yazz later studied with a student of Dunn’s, Geromina Montoya. Thus, his drawings and watercolor works became a contemporary mixture of the traditional Navajo symbolism of color and design, influences of the Santa Fe Studio style, and knowledge gained from art school training.
The Park is proud to own one of Beatien Yazz’s paintings. This simple representation of a deer and three birds demonstrates Yazz’s stylistic approach and his ability to transform an ordinary scene into one with an enchanted fairy tale quality. The Santa Fe studio style can be seen in this piece; there is no background or context to the painting other than the serene grouping of animals. Yazz painted this piece with gouache, an opaque watercolor which renders a stronger color than regular watercolor.
Over his more than 50 year career, Beatien Yazz has created hundreds of paintings, illustrated two books that tell his life story, Spin a Silver Dollar and Paint the Wind, both written by Alberta Hannum, served his country, been an active member of his community, and created a personal artistic style which clearly shows his love of the Navajo way of life. Due to failing eyesight Yazz was forced to end his painting career in the late 1980s. Even so, his successful and award-winning career prompted his children to pursue their artistic dreams. Calvin Toddy, Irving Toddy, Marvin Toddy, and Francis Toddy – four of Yazz’ twelve children – have established themselves as successful contemporary artists.
Mrs. Robert Wilson, an avid collector of Native American art, purchased this piece for her home. Her wonderful collection was later donated to the Park by her son and daughter-in-law, Park founders Dick and Jean Wilson.
*Note: Conflicting sources record Yazz’s year of birth was as early at 1926 or as late as 1930 although most indicate he was born in 1928.
Andes, Bob. “Beatien Yazz: Looking Into the Fire.” Southwest Art. June 1996, pg. 75 – 87.
Bassman, Theda. Treasures of the Navajo. Flagstaff, Northland Publishing, 1997.
Chase, Katherin. “The Navajo Way – One Artist’s View.” Museum of Northern Arizona Museum Notes. January – February 1982. Vol. 10, No. 1.
Davis, Linzee W. King. “Modern Navajo Watercolor Painting.” Arizona Highways. July 1956. Pg. 10 – 31.
Dittemore, Diane D. Connections Across Generations. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 2002.
Seymour, Tryntje Van Ness. When the Rainbow Touches Down. Phoenix, The Heard Museum. 1988.