Thursday, October 17, 2013

Gallup Cultural Center and Train Station

Our next stop on the tour of Gallup was the Gallup Cultural Center.  The Cultural Center acts as a museum, art gallery, a Visitor Information Center, an Amtrak Lobby and there is a cute little cafe inside called Angela's Cafe.   It is located in the old Santa Fe Depot on Historic Route 66.



The building was built in 1923 and was part of the Atchison Topeka and Fred Harvey complex.  Once there was a plush El Navajo Hotel attached to the railroad station on the west side.    The hotel was torn down in the 1950's to make way for widening Route 66.


The Amtrak Lobby and Visitor Center

Kachina Dolls by Duane Dishta

Kachina Dolls by Duane Dishta

Pottery and Ceremonial Baskets from the Don C Tanner Family

Example of Navajo Weaving Loom













These are plants, seeds, herbs, flowers, etc. that the Navajo use to make dyes for their weavings.


Sand Paintings
Navajo mythology tells us that sand paintings came to the Dine during the 7 days and 7 nights of purification and instruction by the Holy Ones. 

Hogan
"It is often said that the four sacred mountains are the posts of a great Hogan.  For years the Navajos, Hopis, Zunis and other tribes lived alone together inside the Hogan.  They fought, traded and suffered drought but the world outside the four mountains mattered little to them.  A day came, however, when the Spaniards from across the oceans pulled the blanket from the Hogan door and winds from the four corners of the world blew inside.  According to the legend the people of the Gambler had come back." From "Between Sacred Mountains". 

The Master's Gallery
A Modern Native American Art Gallery





Navajo Legacy by Irving Toddy

The Olympic Opening Ceremony Basket
In 2002 the Southwest Indian Foundation participated in the Discover Navajo Pavillion at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.  This basket commemorates the Opening Ceremony of the 2002 Olympics.  It is the work of Lorraine Black of Mexican Hat, Utah.

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