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Artist Statement:
Coming Soon!
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Artist Exhibitions:
Coming Soon!
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Artist Galleries:
Coming Soon!
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Artist Reviews:
Coming Soon!
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Collections:
Coming Soon!
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Commissions:
Coming Soon!
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Michael Mitchell Silas Biography:
| Biographical information for Michael Mitchell Silas can be found below. The artist may choose what information to display. Sometimes the artist chooses not to display personal information to the general public. |
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Age
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54
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| Gender |
Male
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| Status |
Married
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| Children |
1
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| Religion |
Baha'i |
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| Education |
Self Taught |
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| Hobbies / Interests |
Hiking, Bicycling |
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| Favorite Artistic Medium |
Other
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| Favorite Arthistory Movement |
not provided
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| Favorite Visual Artist |
not provided
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| Favorite Work of Art |
not provided
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| Biggest Artistic Inspiration |
not provided |
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| Why Did You Become An Artist |
To share my Native traditions with the people of the world. To bring people together in out diversity. |
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| Your Personal Biography |
Mitchell Silas is a full-blooded Navajo, born and raised on the Navajo Reservation.He has been sandpainting in healing ceremonies for over fourty years, since his early teens when he began assisting singers(medicine men).
At one time, Mitchell had dreams of becoming a singer(healer) himself, but was told by his uncle, a singer, that his life would follow a new and more important path. Now as an artist, Mitchell seeks to spread the healing message of human unity through the use of his talent as a sandpainter. He still sometimes assists in the healing ceremonies but they are becoming lost as the Singers(medicine men) die out without leaving their knowledge behind.
Mitchell has traveled for many years demonstrating versions of the, rarely seen in public, Ceremonial sandpaintings and showing his permanent works. He has traveled across the continent many times as well as from the Yukon into Mexico. Also he has toured Northern Europe and Russia. He also has pieces in collections throughout the world.
Silas has been the subject of special television and video features in Canada, Connecticut, Colorado, Norway, a magazine feature in Spain and has had radio interviews in Sweden, Finland, Texas, and California. He has taught artistic sandpainting and the significance of Ceremonial sandpainting in all levels of schools, from preschool to adult education to Universities and Museums, in many countries. Mitchell also has a large sandpainting on permanent display at the Denver Art Museum in Denver,Colorado.
While his rich tradition is a major influence on this sandpainter, his belief in the fulfillment of Dine(Navajo) prophecy has caused him to look to the beauty of many varied cultures of the world. We are all one people "We have to share our cultures and traditions," he says,"or they will die with us." |
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