One-of-a-Kind School in US Immerses Students in Native Arts

Dolores Scarlett Cortez hopes to eventually use her talents in printmaking and photography as an art therapist to help members of her indigenous community, Santa Fe, N.M., Oct. 9, 2019. Julie Taboh/VOA

Renee Chavez, from the Isleta Pueblo in New Mexico, paints horses, Santa Fe, N.M., Oct. 9, 2019. Julie Taboh/VOA

International student Erika Knecht poses with one of her favorite pieces of art, Mollyanna Sabori’s digital painting “Black Feathers,” on display at the Balzer Contemporary Edge Gallery on the IAIA campus, Santa Fe, N.M., Oct. 9, 2019. Julie Taboh/VOA

A digital dome allows viewers to see images on a spherical rather than a flat surface. IAIA is home to the only articulating digital dome (meaning it’s capable of movement) in the world, Santa Fe, N.M., Oct. 9, 2019. Julie Taboh/VOA

IAIA ceramics student Daniel Yazzie Natonabah makes a clay pot using a coil method that is popular among Pueblo and Hopis, Santa Fe, N.M., Oct. 10, 2019. Julie Taboh/VOA

Student Amalia Sparks creates one-of-a-kind ceramic bowls, Santa Fe, N.M., Oct. 9, 2019. Julie Taboh/VOA

The Institute of American Indian Arts, one of three congressionally chartered colleges in the United States, has been immersing students in Native American contemporary arts and culture for more than 55 years, Santa Fe, N.M., Oct. 9, 2019. Julie Taboh/VOA