“From Debutante to Indian Trader,” is the story of a woman born into a privileged life in Wheeling, West Virginia who ended up buying the Wide Ruins Trading Post in 1938, at the age of 32, and transformed the art of Navajo weaving. 

Prior to the arrival of Bill and Sallie Lippincott at Wide Ruins, vegetal dyes were an exception in Navajo weaving. 

The couple was responsible for creating a new style of whose impact was felt across the reservation. 

I’d like to share a couple of stories (and there are lots of them!) about Stanton Englehart.  He taught at Fort Lewis College for over 30 years where he was the head of the art department. 

As a professor, Englehart was known for his love of teaching and his ability to inspire his students, not necessarily as artists, but as people. As an artist, he continually strove to capture the immensity, depth and personality of the Four Corners area.

Englehart’s work has been exhibited at Toh-Atin since 1982, when he first decided to publicly market his work. Prior to that, the only way you got a Stanton Englehart was as a gift, if you purchased it for a nominal price (and promised to sell it back if you no longer wanted it) or if you bought a painting at one of the many charity auctions where he donated paintings.

Two of our most popular Holiday events are this weekend. On Friday, December 7, from 5 until 9 pm, join us for Noel Night, a Durango tradition with 10% discount on everything in the gallery and a special Sales Room with 20% to 70% discounts. 

Noel night is always special with Darryl Kuntz, legendary keyboard master, playing your favorite Christmas Carols. Leather artist and jeweler Eric Hodges will be showing his work along with pottery artist Norman Lansing! 

The American Bison or as we call it, the Buffalo, roamed the plains of the American West virtually unchallenged by natural predators. They were an essential part of life for the Indians of the plains. The Buffalo provided food, hides for teepees, clothing and robes for winter. The leather was used for bridles, shields, bows and many other things.

Until the coming of the railroad and the fur trade, these magnificent animals covered the plains. Today, small herds exist and there is a growing market for the healthy, lean meat of the Buffalo.