Native American Biography: James Luna, Artist, performance artist, Luiseño

 James Luna challenges Native American stereotypes.  He does this through museum displays, where he often inserts himself into the display.  "Take a picture with a real Indian."  He had been part of over 100 museum exhibitions, group and individual.  He lived at the La Jolla reservation of the Luiseño people.  He is part Mexican.  His displays can be jarring such as a Native American medicine man giving away sacred relics such as a wet dream catcher.  He taught art at three California Universities including San Diego, Davis and Irvine.  He was also a counsellor at a community college.  His art and exhibits have ben displayed in Los Angeles, New York, Canada, Santa Fe etc.  He received an honorary doctorate from the Institute of American Arts, Santa Fe.  

Half Mexican, Half Indian

Native American Biography: Tonita Pena: San Ildefenso: Artist

Tonita Pena is mostly a self taught artist.  She started with crayons.  Then archeologist Edgar Hewett kept her supplied with water colors and paper.  She was the mother of eight children by three different men.  She also tended 100 fowl, had hogs and a flower garden.  She was a very busy woman with household responsibilities.  She would find time to pain at night by kerosene lamp.  She painted on wood, masonite, canvas and paper.  She used water colors, pen, colored ink and oils.  She mostly painted women at work and dance scenes.