The story behind my art
"My goal is to inspire the power of faith that so many have forgotten about within themselves to help them "communicate with the spirit world and with the spirit-that-moves-in-all-things, the Life Force."
Quote from Stalking Wolf Lipan, Apache
"My work is inspired from visions and dreams that I sketch on paper and then transform into three dimensional art forms.
"In 1995 I was a concrete form-setter and a student. A motorcycle accident on November 18 changed my life forever. I received severe injuries—a staff infection took over my body, and bedridden, near death, I prayed to god to help me.
"An old Indian spirit came to me, with silver hair and a face that was deeply wrinkled and weathered. He was older than old, he was ancient. He said nothing to me, just looked upon me, and was gone.
"After seeing the old spirit I began to see some intense visions and sights. Then the old spirit began to talk to me in my visions, dreams, and in my mind. These visions brought me strength, courage, confidence, and direction because what I was seeing was spirutal and empowering.
"Though I did not know it yet, each of these visions had a significant role in my recovery—like a preacher preaching the word of god I was to show my visions through my art—these images of the spirit world that the ancient Indian spirit had bestowed upon me.
"My health got better, my spirit grew stronger, and with my contorted hand I began to draw the visions. When I would look at a piece of paper to begin to draw a vision I felt as if I was tracing—the image was already there on the paper before me.
"My spirit guide's visions are my visions, his strength is my strength, his power is my power. The path he has chosen for me leads me to the land of the little singing tree and of the rainbow star—the spirit world."
Ruben Jimenez Acuña
The southwest shapes my work
"My relationship with the southwest, where I live and work north of Santa Fe next to the Nambe pueblo, is mirrored in my art. Molten metal shapes my art as once molten rock shaped the environment in which I and my people live today.
"I continually challenge myself and thus others to understand the resplendent qualities of my people: the unique people of the southwest are reneacted in each of my bronzes.
"I believe in the power of family, and in the tradition that ancestry holds. The uniqueness of the people that live on this land is unlike anywhere else in the world, and my art embodies these people who honor the traditions of family and the spiritual path of our universal family. This legacy will continue for an eternity of generations."
Ruben Jimenez Acuña
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Visionary Art "My artwork is inspired by visions and dreams which are transformed to create a unqiue spirutal art form without constraints while also honoring my ancestral culture and native imagery. My inspiration is based on the strong beliefs and traditions of my ancestors, their respect for mother earth, father sky, and our emergence from the underworld." Statement by the artist -
Prayer Bears "The bear is the helper and the guide to the Spirit World. Each bear is adorned with its own prayer blanket. Once this regalia adorns the bear, he ceases to be an individual and becomes the power that he has chosen to represent. The bear represents man's spirit. This transformation brings one closer to the spirit so that god may hear the prayer with clarity and determination. The prayer will be heard." Statement by the artist -
Prayer Bears Crooner
Bronze
28" x 9" x 5"
$4400
Prayer Bear 1 (shown)
Bronze 20" x 8" x 4"
$3500
Tofu
Bronze 17" x 8" x 4"
$2600
Adolescent
Bronze 16" x 6" x 4"
$1250
Each bear is different! Ask for images... -
Eye Rising -
Shaman Healer Bronze, life sized - $26,000
"I was a potter, and then I was commanded by an ancient wisdom keeper to work in metal. Metal takes a series of many processes to get to the end product: there is first the form that is sculpted, then made into a mold which is then filled with melted bronze, hammered, welded, strengthened, fired, patina-ed. The medium is difficult and stubborn, and required me to learn an exciting new language and added a more permanent aspect to my work." Statement by the artist -
Harvest Moon
Corn Maiden Bronze 8" x 14" $2600
"In a vision I saw an Apache maiden with long black hair sitting under a large tree grinding corn on a large metate. Beside her was a basket filled with corn. The sight was surreal, and the beauty of the woman was mesmerizing." Statement by the artist -
Guardian Spirit of Tree of Life - 1 of 4 Bronze 20" x 24" - $4400
"This guardian spirit—half-horse and half-man—is a sacred helper to man and treated with highest respect and as a brother; he is the protector of the Tree of Life and the Circle of Life." Statement by the artist
Price List
Contact
Ruben Jimenez Acuña
#226 County Road 113
Santa Fe, NM 87506
Studio: (505) 455-9327
Fax: (505) 455-2326
Cell: (505) 670-2509
E-mail:
racuña@eyerisingart.com
Story Sheets
In pdf format for printing
My goal as an artist
The story behind my art
The southwest shapes my work
The metal is a language
Shaman
Prayer bears
Guardian
Nana Virginia con lenia
Harvest Moon