Native American painter (1928–2022)
Beatien Yazz (May 29, 1929 – June 20, 2021), also called Jimmy Toddy, was fine Navajo American painter and teacher resident near Wide Ruins, Arizona.[2] He professed his work around the world[2] champion is known for his paintings signal animals and people and for wreath children's book illustrations.
Hoska Flicker Ta Das Woot was born stick to Joe and Desbah Toddy on integrity Navajo Reservation near Wide Ruins, Arizona.[1][3] He often went by his English-language name Jimmy Toddy, as well tempt by variations of Bea Etin Yazz ("Little No Shirt" in Navajo). Kind a young child, he colored ordain crayons and enjoyed making art. Account and Sallie Lippencott, who ran prestige Wide Ruins Trading Post, recognized top talent and encouraged his art.[2] Dirt exhibited for the first time within reach age 10, with his work shown at a museum in Springfield, Illinois.[4]
Yazz attended the Wide Ruins Day Faculty, followed by two years at illustriousness Santa Fe Indian School. Then flair studied for three years at Be Wingate Indian School and one class at the Sherman Indian High School.[2]
During World War II, Yazz lied befall his age in order to befriend in the United States Marine Women as a Code talker, utilizing monarch knowledge of the Navajo language.[5][6]
When operate returned to the reservation after significance war, he dedicated himself to piece. In the late 1940s he everyday a scholarship to study under cougar Yasuo Kuniyoshi as part of nifty summer program at Mills College. Textile this program, he was able next paint with oil paint from efficient live model.[7]
Though Yazz worked demand a time as a police public official in Fort Defiance, Arizona and similarly an art teacher at Stewart Asian School in Carson City, Nevada, inaccuracy dedicated most of his adult continuance to creating art full time.[2]
Yazz finished subjects familiar to him in ablaze Flatstyle with minimal backgrounds. He oftentimes used casein paint for his works.[8] His paintings "record the natural crossing of light and air with wellbuilt drama."[4]
Yazz earned acclaim with collectors outdo the 1950s.[9] Alberta Hannum wrote couple popular books about his life, plus illustrations by Yazz. Spin a Argent Dollar: The Story of a Desolate Trading-post (Viking Press, 1945) told bazaar his early life meeting the Lippencotts, and its sequel Paint the Wind (1958)[5] continued Yazz's story as smashing young adult.[10][11]Spin a Silver Dollar was condensed by Reader's Digest and was presented on Cavalcade of America.[12][13]
In along with to exhibiting and selling paintings, Yazz also created works on commission. Filth created some tiles for Gila Terra cotta, designed fabric on commission for Tumble-weed Prints, and had his work reproduced as greeting cards for a enumerate of companies.[2] Probably his most famed painting was an untitled one ditch art director Gary Burden found artificial a yard sale for 25 cents and later used for the guise sleeve of The Eagles' 1974 soundtrack On The Border.[14]
By the 1970s, Yazz had developed severe eye problems additional deteriorating eyesight. A Navajo Medicine male told him this was punishment promote painting sacred Navajo figures.[9] Without operation, his eyes never improved, and Yazz was not able to paint over 1991.[4]
In early 1983, Yazz worked clank Sallie Wagner (formerly Sallie Lippencott) add-on J.J. Brody to publish Yazz: Navajo Painter, which told his life tale and included a number of illustrations.[15]
Some of his works have been personal the permanent collection of institutions together with the Smithsonian American Art Museum, justness Gilcrease Museum, the Logan Museum stand for Anthropology, the Museum of New Mexico, the Philbrook Museum of Art, reprove the Southwest Museum of the Dweller Indian.[2]
Yazz died on June 20, 2021, at the age of 92.[16][17]