But Lomahaftewa, who is Hopi-Choctaw, and others on the faculty of IAIA are intensely devoted to the mission of this small but unique school.
IAIA — the nation’s only four-year fine arts institution devoted to American Indian and Alaska Native arts — is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Since its creation in 1962, the tribal college near Santa Fe, N.M., has produced thousands of painters, sculptors, writers and filmmakers.
Some have attained national and international reputations in the art world, including Earl Biss, T.C. Cannon, Doug Hyde and Roxanne Swentzell. Renowned contemporary artists have also taught at IAIA, including Allan Houser, Fritz Scholder and Charles Loloma and his wife, Otellie Loloma.
Giving back
Lomahaftewa, 64, is proud that the school has survived some tough times and has had a deep influence on American Indian art on many levels. “Students will say, ‘My teacher in high school was at school here,’” she says.
