Inspired by the cultural landscape of Bears Ears and a deep desire to ensure visitors respect these lands, Friends of Cedar Mesa is making certain those traveling in the region are reminded to Visit with Respect.
FCM is humbled to work with artist Venaya Yazzie to place a larger-than-life mural on the building next to the Bears Ears Education Center.
Yazzie, a celebrated Four Corners artist, is a member of the Navajo Nation who carries Hopi heritage from her father. She studied at the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Arts in Santa Fe, and she holds a Bachelor of Arts from Fort Lewis College in Durango and a Master of Arts from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
“For a modern Native woman of Navajo and Hopi heritage who was born and raised in the Southwest- the land connection is embedded in my DNA and the flora and fauna embedded in my bones- Keyáh (the land) is my continual muse and her seasonal songs are the core of creative inspiration,” Yazzie said.
Yazzie is inspired by the colors and textures of the region, and her design pulls together various elements from a recent visit she completed with the Navajo Nation in which FCM assisted. “Color is important to the artist, but also it’s the land narrative,” Yazzie said. “It’s really telling a story and when people come visit here, they get inspired by 
the colors.”
Yazzie’s design also highlights a representation of the important Cave Tower’s site – a site visited by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland during her time in Bears Ears as part of a review of monument boundaries. “Really it’s a cultural narrative,” Yazzie said, “I feel like when I paint these days it’s perfecting the cultural narrative of that place.”
“We want to inspire reverence for the landscape and a deep sense of place through an artistic collaboration that embodies Indigenous perspectives,” said FCM Education Director Sarah Burak. “We’ve been thinking of unique ways to reach more people, and this mural is sure to catch those passing through and deliver the message that this place is special and deserving of respect, even if they don’t stop at the Bears Ears Education Center.”
Yazzie spent four days in late September painting the mural with help from Bluff community members. The Visit with Respect mural, located on the Tse Kooh Outfitters building next to the Education Center, also contributes to the diverse public art in Bluff.
“This really is a community mural, the community can look at it and say ‘I painted that portion,’” Yazzie said.
FCM would like to extend a special thanks to Cody Little, owner of Tse Kooh Outfitters, for providing space for this inspiring new artwork.
Another special thanks goes to Paul Martini for the beautiful photos, included in this article.
To see more of Venaya Yazzie’s work, visit her website.