Zefren-M

I have worn many hats over the years and I have a summary of my life is below. Though is have lived with Navajo Cultural art Philosophy since I was a youngster, it did not occur to me that I could make a living from it until I met that many wonderful teachers and artists I mention below. Without their help I would not have won the 2019 Heard Museum Best of show and the multiple awards from the Navajo nation Fair, Gallup ceremonial and the Santa Fe Indian Market. I hope to continue their teachings to the next generation if I am able.

Bio

I, Ephraim Anderson also known as (Zefren-m), am a Native American multi-disciplined artist based out of the southwestern United States of America. I belong to the Navajo Nation and have spent the last 4 decades continuing the traditions taught to me by my grandparents. I grew up in the eighties wearing clothes from the seventies and lived like it was the mid century Navajo nation. My formative creative mind was influenced by the esthetics of post war design, functional survival while listening to the best military marches and scratchy music 78 rpm records.  Both grandmothers instilled the core domestic arts of their youth cooking, farming, sheep raising, sewing and weaving. I learned how to maintain machinery, and working in the fields and dealing with society from my grandfather.

                I went to college at University of New Mexico after graduating Navajo Preparatory School in 2001. When in Albuquerque I volunteered heavily with M-Powerment Project a peer based HIV/STI prevention program and worked among my fellow LGBT+ community. After spending 8 years off reservations living on my own I returned to Shiprock to become the primary care giver for my Father whose just recently turned 75 years old.

                While home I reconnected with Navajo culture and by 2016 started a journey to learn as much as i could from the many weaving elders across Dinétah. I’m familiar with living and herding sheep between our winter and summer camps of the banks of the San Juan River and the canyons of little Shiprock wash. Roy was skilled at mountain and foothill living of the Carrizzo and Chuska mountains. Through the experiences and guidance of Roy I entered the Heard Museum guild Indian Market and fair (Heard Indian Market) and the Southwestern Association of Indian Arts (SWAIA) in 2017. After spending two years his Roy I joined the Navajo Cultural Arts program and earned my certificate in Navajo weaving in 2019. During this Co-hort I studied and was mentored by Weaver Ilene Nagle, Silversmiths Wilson Arnolith Jr. and Lyndon Tsosie. There are all master in their respective careers and I value all the knowledge that was exchanged and sought by all.

                Then the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the Navajo Nation in the spring of 2020 and suddenly I found myself helping and advising new farmers on how I remember it being done and donated time to the various food drops that happened during the subsequent lock downs. Despite shaving my hair and wearing 19th century PPE I caught Covid-19 through the healthcare system. Fortunately my Father did not get infected. I fought Covid-19 when there was no vaccine, Paxlovid, oxygen, or no room at the hospital. Covid on the Navajo Nation interview with Zefren.  The after effects of surviving this caused me to focused back on to my art and class work as I was able to finally continue my college education. I’m currently a junior at Dine College seeking my bachelor’s in fine arts with an emphasis on Navajo Silversmithing.

Zefren shows thier lastest weaving “Motherearth and Father sky Entwined” in thier studio. (2022)

Our Misson

It is my mission to capture history stories and archaeology to create modern art so these ancient arts does not Fade Away into only museums and books. While using my art to teach the next generation southwestern indigenous weavers, the Lost history and weavings of our ancestors. Through visits to Museums like SARS, Wheelwright and a collection of out of print papers I’ve collected, I’ve have started to rebuild a timeline of weaving technology and techniques of the last 2000 years. A new narrative emerges that reaffirms a collective existence between the ancestors of the tribes of the southwest

Many of these techniques are a part of documented historic Navajo weaving and what I’ve focused on for my art. To bring forgotten everyday textiles into the forefront of Native American art and culture. The meddling of Ancient, modern, rural and urban can work to make new exciting art that supports all involved in its creation through the reestablishment of old weaving traditions to preserve sheep, land and language. Using the income from my weavings I donate time to Non profits with the same mission such as Sheep is Life and lectures to school children.

Using paint to put old memories and the abstract into reality have always been part of my process as a weaver and designer. Many do not understand past design without seeing a representation on canvas, paper or monitor. Working with mixing colors and limited palettes creates the scenes in which I paint, or design. sometimes it is the only way to convey the humor in everyday life and it’s through paint that is can express these images.

Awards

2024

1st place, Class VI: Weavings & Textiles Division A: Regional, Pan-Reservation and Revival style weavings – “It Has Brought Us Home”, Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market, Phoenix, AZ

2023

1st place,  Hand spun hand prepared Yarn – “Tapestry  Art Yarn”, Mountain and Valley Wool Association Wool Show, New Mexico, NM

2nd Place Category D: Flat, hollowware & Boxes, Tsa diswooh – The Glittering Bowl, GALLUP INTER-TRIBAL INDIAN CEREMONIAL, Gallup, NM

 

2021

1st Place Category E: Miscellaneous weaving, GALLUP INTER-TRIBAL INDIAN CEREMONIAL, Gallup, NM

2nd Place Category A: Men’s Bolo Buckle set, GALLUP INTER-TRIBAL INDIAN CEREMONIAL, Gallup, NM

1st place, Class VI: Weavings & Textiles Division A, House of Rain, Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market, Phoenix, AZ

2020

Final 5 overall juried art show, SOUTHWESTERN ASSOCIATION FOR INDIAN ARTS, Santa Fe, NM

2019

2nd Place Girls traditional attire, SOUTHWESTERN ASSOCIATION FOR INDIAN ARTS, Santa Fe, NM

1st Place Category F: Innovations weaving, GALLUP INTER-TRIBAL INDIAN CEREMONIAL, Gallup, NM

1st Place Category D: Flat, hollowware & Boxes, GALLUP INTER-TRIBAL INDIAN CEREMONIAL, Gallup, NM

Best of Show, Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market, Phoenix, AZ

Best of Classification, Weaving & Textiles, Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market, Phoenix, AZ

Best of Division, Regional, Pan-Reservation and Revival style weavings, Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market, Phoenix, AZ

2018

Navajo Cultural Arts Program Apprenticeship grant, Dine College, Tsaile, AZ

Best of Show, 72nd Nizhoni Arts Market, Window Rock, AZ

Best of Class, Textiles & Weavings, 72nd Nizhoni Arts Market, Window Rock, AZ

1st Place, Division A, 72nd Nizhoni Arts Market, Window Rock, AZ

1st Place Category E: miscellaneous weavings, GALLUP INTER-TRIBAL INDIAN CEREMONIAL, Gallup, NM

2nd Place Category F: Innovations weaving, GALLUP INTER-TRIBAL INDIAN CEREMONIAL, Gallup, NM

Turney’s Inc. Special Award, GALLUP INTER-TRIBAL INDIAN CEREMONIAL, Gallup, NM

Teresa Hatathlie preserving the legacy of the master Weaver, Navajo Cultural Arts Week exhibit, Dine College, Tsaile, AZ

Best Silver Work, Navajo Cultural Arts Week exhibit, Dine College, Tsaile, AZ

2017

Judges Choice, 71st Nizhoni Arts Market, Window Rock, AZ

2nd Place, Weavings Category 5, Flag Wool & Fiber Festival, Flagstaff, AZ

1st Place, Weavings Category 5, Flag Wool & Fiber Festival, Flagstaff, AZ

2014

1st Place, Sewing, Domestic Arts & Horticulture, Navajo Nation Fair, Window Rock, AZ

Thank you for joining us today and please feel to browse and support my work buy going to the shop Have a Nice Day.
Zefren-M
Artist

Like this:

Like Loading...