We now have a Twitter account, @QuincyTahoma, and invite you to join us if you’re on Twitter.
Oh the wonderful connections just waiting out there in Internet land! Here’s a nice little story.
A few posts ago we told you about Quincy Tahoma’s friend, Ramos Sanchez. Ramos and his beautiful wife Gerdy live at San Ildefonso Pueblo. Ramos’ father was a famous painter, and as a child, Ramos tells me, he used to make drawings and paintings and go out and sell them to the bus loads of tourists that came to see his father.
He got away from painting for many years but started up again in his seventies, and after he was eighty was invited for the first time to show his paintings at the Santa Fe Indian Market. But his current paintings are not the only ones that are collected.
One person searched on the Internet for information about Ramos Sanchez and found our blog. Since she would be going to Santa Fe soon, she contacted us and asked if she could get in touch with Quincy Tahoma’s friend Ramos. You see, for many years, she has owned a sweet little painting of horses done by the eleven-year-old Ramos Sanchez, and she wanted very much to meet him and tell him how much this painting meant to her.
Painting by Ramos Sanchez at Age 11
I (Vera) called Ramos and he was pleased that some one was that interested in his childhood art, and he called the owner of the painting. End of the story–they will be meeting in Santa Fe. For the REAL end of the story, we hope that she will come back to our comment section and tell us about the reunion of the 11-year-old’s painting with the mature artist. (And she has done that–look around and you’ll see her comments.)
How can we help you connect? Or get more information about Quincy Tahoma or the other painters who attended Dorothy Dunn’s Studio at Santa Fe Indian School?
Wow, I just read this and had no idea! My story of meeting Ramos was one of the most amazing adventures of my life and my heart. We continue to communicate with letters and he will be my life long friend. I encourage everyone to become aware of his artwork and choose one for their homes. I promise they carry the most beautiful energy with them.
My story is below:
Long ago, at a little Indian school in San Ildefonse Pueblo, on a reservation close to Santa Fe, New Mexico…a little boy about eleven sat and painted horses in watercolors. He was an artist by heart, legacy, and circumstance. He had no idea where it would take him, or that he would become so special in hearts that lived far away.
en or so years ago, I was online and came upon a beautiful painting of three horses that looked very old, very abused, and without a doubt, needed a new home. I read in the description…from the Indian school of San Ildefonse Pueblo. Painted by Ramos Sanchez, age 11.
I knew nothing of this school nor Ramos Sanchez. I only knew that I loved it. Soon it was on its way to my home. When it arrived, within a few days I took it to be framed. It had endured water damage, time, and who knows what else. Simply in a tube upon its arrival..I knew that I needed to give it proper protection as soon as possible. I was with my son Matt, who then was around 14 or so, and we found the perfect frame. Upon handing the painting to the framer, he looks at me and says..you should really have this restored. I shook my head and kindly said..it helps tell its story and all that it is. I had no idea what that was, but I still felt it was complete and perfect just the way it was. The framing turned out beautifully and in the years since, this amazing little piece of history has always had a special place on my wall throughout my many, many moves.
Two weeks ago, we received a call from a dear friend of ours who had just purchased a vacation house in Santa Fe and invited us to come relax for a few days and catch up on all we have missed by living so far away. Of course!!! We said…we would LOVE to! I had been to Santa Fe many years ago and simply fell in love with it. My husband had never been but after my account of this magical place, he was even more excited about seeing his friend and experiencing this beautiful mystical land. It was scheduled and we couldn’t wait.
One week ago I was at home..watching something on my TV that I had recorded and just puttering around. At the end of the show, I just let it kick back to whatever channel it was on before because I was busy doing this and that. Background noise, yes? It so happened that it was on a show called Antiques Road Show. I have watched bits and pieces of this show now and then. Nothing on a regular basis but I did always find it interesting. At some point I heard the words, Indian school. I immediately looked up and there on the screen was a painting, that had been framed and restored, and it looked almost exactly like a precious treasure that was hanging on my wall only a few feet away. I ran for the remote and paused the show. Flying to my file cabinet hoping I still had that piece of paper I had printed out years ago, I retrieved my precious document and read again the artists name and its history. I hit play on the remote.The painting on the show was done by an artist from a little Indian school in San Ildefonse Pueblo. So was mine. The “expert” told a beautiful story of this school and that many famous Native American Artists have evolved from their teachings there. Must be from the 1940’s or so, she said. The artists name was different, but the history and the school were one in the same. I was blown away. To the computer I went. I googled, “San Ildefonse Pueblo Indian School”. Not much..this and that…random old articles. I added Ramos Sanchez to the search. Not much again. I was determined to find more about this school and about my horses. It never really mattered before it’s history but I believed there was a reason for all of this now. A new fascination was taking form about this artist that I only knew as a brilliant eleven year old. Soon I came upon a blog of a woman who had loved the work of one Quincy Tahoma. Yes, from San Ildefonse Pueblo. I read on hoping that there was some connection. As I scrolled down, there was a black and white picture of four handsome Native American men, probably in their twenties. One was Quincy Tahoma, one…was Ramos Sanchez! That was all I needed. I found her email on the page and sent her a message, hoping it would not sound too crazy and hoping she knew more of Ramos. Despite the late hour of the evening, after several emails exchanged…she said she would call Ramos the next day and tell him about me. She assured he would call me. I couldn’t believe it. My heart was soaring. Not only because my painting now had a face and soul physically attached to it..but also because San Ildefonse Pueblo was about thirty minutes from Santa Fe…and I was going there in four days!
The next evening, I had the most amazing phone conversation with Ramos Sanchez. He is now 85 years old and still lives in the same house as years gone by. “Could I possibly come meet you?” I asked. “Of course!!!!” this melodic, joyful voice answered! Although he was immediately giving me directions like, just cross the river and look for the giant rock covered in moss and sunlight..I knew these were not from mapquest and said I would call him when I arrived in Santa Fe in a few days. “Can’t wait to meet you” he said. He can’t wait????
Last Friday, I drove along Highway 30 on my way to meet Ramos Sanchez who would be waiting on the side of the road in a grey pickup truck. After finding the old dirt driveway and Ramos in his pickup, he rolled down the window and waved us on to his house now in view. We stepped out and were greeted by his two best friends. One, a blue heeler and the other have no idea other than BIG! He insisted they come inside with us..it was very hot for this time of year. Of course I said after their gifts of sloppy kisses.
I stepped into his home with my painting carefully wrapped in brown paper that I had held in my lap all the way from Austin. We sat on his couch and I unveiled my treasure and asked, “Do you remember this?” What a silly thing to ask an 85 year old man who had painted all his life. Just to humor me I am sure he said, “Of Course!” After hours of looking through paintings he had done, listening to amazing stories of his life complete with treasures in a room that looked like a museum, we sat to rest and reflect. Turns out his father, Able Sanchez (Owi Pi) was a well known artist in Santa Fe and Quincy Tahoma (whom the blog was about), was a friend and mentor to Ramos in his early years. So many stories from his past to his beautiful children and grandchildren. It was like a story book.
“Do you have a knife I can open my painting with?” I asked. He pulls out a beautiful pocket knife given to him by his son this last father’s day. “Of course”, he says. We carefully cut around the backing and eventually can remove what we need. He proceeds to sign his work of art 74 years after it was painted. He wished me a long and happy life in words and then signed it…. Oqwa Owin…his Native American name and how he signs all of his work. I managed not to cry…barely.
Next he hands to me yet another work. “This is for you” he says. I had no words, but I did have a huge hug for this man I know I have known somewhere in time before.
“Do not walk us out” I plead. The day was long and he looked tired, although his expression was of great content. We exchanged contact information and promised to be lifelong friends. And then we left.
I took one last picture of the grand rock beside his home and of the land and the house. The only thing in my heart and head repeated….what a gift.
Today I went back to work. Just another day in reality. I am happy that I have things to do. What was different about today was…I took Oqwa Owin with me in my heart. Funny how light it was. The painting is back in its place after a long journey. I think I will keep it in the entrance hall. That means each time I pass by….I will smile and think of a little eleven year old boy in San Ildefonse Pueblo..and how much he loved horses.