Navajo artist Tony Abeyta’s “Underworlderness” exhibition will explore the Navajo underworld, the current world and our relationship to the cosmos in a series of ink and charcoal drawings.

The south wall of the Crossroads Gallery at the Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Ave., will feature a large-scale installation created by using subtle ink washes and vine charcoal onto large paper panels installed on the wall. Other walls in the gallery will feature large-scale black-and-white drawings, as well as video installations by Abeyta’s 17-year-old son Gabriel. The video installation will depict a reverse time-lapse view of the installation’s process.

This is an example of Navajo artist Tony Abeyta’s new direction into exploring the Navajo underworld. Abeyta will be exhibiting another in his series of “underworldnerness” works at the Heard Museum beginning June 6 (photo by Jennifer Esperanza).

This exhibition will serve as an experiment for Abeyta as well as the audience as they observe the artist in action. Abeyta will create the south wall artwork during museum hours, beginning approximately two weeks before the June 6 opening. During this time, museum patrons can interact with the artists, ask questions and serve as witnesses of Abeyta’s strictly creative endeavor.
    “Underworlderness” will speak to the Navajo belief that humans emerged from the Earth and that the Earth is our creator. The ideas and artwork presented are organic, natural and botanical in nature and therefore closely tied with environmental causes. The overall effect in the gallery will create an environment rather than just a simple viewing room.
The exhibition opens to the public on Phoenix First Friday, 8 p.m. June 6, and runs through Jan. 18, 2009. For First Friday, admission is free. Regular admission is $10 adults; $9 seniors (55+); $5 students; $4 children 6-12; free for children under 6, Heard Museum members and American Indians. Admission also is free for all on the second Sunday of every month. For more information, call 602-252-8848 or visit heard.org.