ZUŅI SUNFACE
Among the Hopi and Zuņi people of the American Southwest,
as well as the Rio Grande Pueblo Tribes, and in fact all Native American
People, and indeed people all over the world, the Sun is a powerful and
revered force of life-giving importance.
There are many symbolic representations of the Sun. To me,
the most beautiful is this simple, direct image from Zuņi.
When I first began painting professionally, in 1968,
I looked about, searching for a symbol that I could use as talisman,
trademark, emblem the way Maynard Dixon had used his Thunderbird in a
Circle, and Whistler his Butterfly.
 I had just started wearing a ring that I had taken in
trade, and become fond of. It was an early Zuņi Channel piece, and at its
center was a Sunface design, inlaid with Turquoise, Coral, Shell,
and Jet.
As I was completely immersed at that time in painting
Indians and things Indian, and because the Sun is the source of the light
that illuminates all that we see and paint, I chose to adopt this elegant,
simple design as my symbol.
I didn't realize it at the time, but it would later become
more meaningful to me because it also represented the three primary
colors, which I have used exclusively since 1979.
I still wear the ring, and use the Sunface as an integral
part of my signature, though I have moved on to other things and seldom paint Indian subjects, except for the Kachinas which are still a vital and
important part of my work.
You will find it sprinkled throughout this web site, as I
have learned to feel comfortable and at home in its presence, as I hope
you will.
jf
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