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Art Gallery Presents: Filmer Kewanyama
January 11 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Free
Fil (Yoimasa) Kewanyama
Hopi Tribe
Qalwung’gwa (Sun Forehead) Clan
In 1972, Fil was sent to boarding school in Riverside, CA. Although he found boarding school somewhat militaristic, in the long run he felt it gave him an edge when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Fil served with the U.S. Army -Infantry from 1976-1997, retiring with the rank of First Sergeant. Before retiring Fil was a First Sergeant of an Infantry Rifle Company with the 25th Infantry Division. He also taught Military Science at UC-Davis and CSU-Sacramento. Upon retiring he moved to Phoenix to work as a Federal Security/Police Officer working at INS, FBI, Office of Hearing Appeals and Sandra Day O’Connor Bldg.
Upon moving to Prescott, Fil enrolled part-time at Yavapai College to earn an Associate Degree in graphic design. During his time as a student, Fil was also hired by the Art Department faculty to manage the Yavapai College art gallery for 3 years.
Today Fil is an active artist, having won awards for his Hopi art works collected locally and around the country. “Everything I make has a story behind it. The best part of my art is telling people what it means. It is how I teach non-Hopi people about who we are in today’s world.
Fil conducts presentations on Hopi history and about his artwork in the Prescott area. He also works seasonally for the Boston Road Scholar Program as a guide leading tours thru Hopi and Navajo Lands. He is an advisor to the Board of Trustees for the Museum of Indigenous People, Prescott and on Board of Directors for Tis Art Gallery. He curates the “Journeys in Spirit” native art exhibition at the Tis Art Gallery and is also very active in Veterans’ Affairs in Prescott and with the Hopi Tribe.
Come out and meet Filmer Kewanyama and experience his remarkable artwork firsthand. Hear about his influences and interpretations stemming from Hopi history.