Native American artist makes Sisters his home

Diversification in styles and art mediums is the signature of Sisters' artist Kenneth T. White II. White is best known for his unique mat board carvings, watercolor paintings and alabaster sculpting.

White will exhibit his work at the Sisters Western & Native American Arts Festival at Creekside Park on Saturday and Sunday, September 2-3.

White, a Native American of the Dine'h Tribe, was born into a family of artists. He grew-up on the Navajo Nation in Shiprock, New Mexico. At 15, he embarked upon his artistic career as a silver smith, a craft he learned from his parents.

White attributes his creative ability to his mother, a versatile artist who incorporates the native motif into all of her works regardless of the medium. Like his mother, White is able to complete things very quickly. He says, "I can start a piece and really complete it without having to do a lot of research on it." When a concept comes to him, he continues, "It's like a blueprint that just echoes in my mind."

White relocated to Central Oregon from Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2004. At the time, White's wife, Jeanne Normand White, who had just received her Masters of Science degree in Oriental Medicine from Southwest Acupuncture College, discovered that both of their astrological charts run through Central Oregon.

Since moving to Central Oregon, in addition to creating unique mat board carvings and abstract and realistic watercolors, White has done creative picture framing for Pettibone Custom Picture Framing in Bend. White extends and embellishes the image he frames, using his mat board carving techniques.

"When I moved up here, I had no idea of the art scene," White said. Working at the frame shop provided him the opportunity to familiarize himself with the area and introduce his work to Central Oregon. White also serves as Art Director for Pettibone Framing and arranges exhibitions by area artists at the shop.

White has created the original frame for this year's Sisters Western & Native American Arts Festival poster that is on display at the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce.

About his 20-year tenure in Santa Fe, White says, "I was pretty much a shadow to lots of fine, fine artists. I always knew I wanted to take the Southwest concepts in the mediums I have learned to other regions."

Sisters seemed the perfect place.

White is passionate about defining his own style. He comments that when people come to his exhibitions, "a lot of people think I have two or three artists exhibiting under one tent." They view his pencil drawings, his alabaster sculptures, his "spirit image" watercolors, his realistic watercolors, his mat board carvings, as well as other mediums all in the same exposition.

His vision is for his style to become so distinct that when people walk into an exhibit, they will say, "Oh, that looks like a Kenneth White." This truly is a challenge for an artist who regularly works with so many different mediums.

There has been an "accidental" quality about White's artistic evolution.

One day when he was exhibiting his work on the streets of Santa Fe, a film director approached him about becoming an actor. He says, "I was found on the streets exhibiting art." White has appeared in several films including, "The Missing," "Lonesome Dove," "The Last Outlaw," "Young Guns II" and "Thief of Time."

Another day when exhibiting at the Palace of Governors, someone asked White to design a rug. White remarks, "So I incorporated my art into a rug." Then, White was asked to put his work into fashion. He says "My work was put into clothing. I became a fashion designer."

During the summer, White prefers to enjoy the out-of-doors and work on his alabaster sculptures. In the winter, he likes to stay cozy and warm indoors and create his mat board carvings and watercolors.

Currently, White is working with Round About Pictures in Bend on the film "Last Camp." White hopes to land a role in the film. About his film roles White laughs and says, "I am stereotyped as being the victim." Last week, he put on his modeling hat and did a photo shoot for Cowboys & Indians Magazine.

White works from his studio at his home in Sisters, and approximately one year ago, Jeanne opened her acupuncture practice, 5 Elements Healing Arts Center, in the Sisters Artworks building at 204 W. Adams Ave. where White exhibits his art. White says, "I like to incorporate my art with healing. Since my wife is part of the healing program, a lot of people find my work kind of healing. I have people that get emotional about my work."

For more information visit http://www.kennethwhiteart.com.

White will be teaching a three-day beginning sculpture workshop September 9, 16 and 23 at Sisters Art Works.

For more information contact the Barclay Gallery at 549-1050.