Nativo Lodge May 10, 2013

Nativo Lodge, a Heritage Hotels and Resorts, Inc. hotel and SWAIA, have commissioned four Native American contemporary artists to transform guestrooms into works of art. This bold artist room project is the first of its kind in New Mexico. "Most people experience art in galleries or museum settings. The opportunity for our hotel guests to sleep in a guest room that is an art piece in itself, promises to be one of the most exciting and stimulating experiences anywhere," said Heritage Hotels and Resorts, Inc. CEO, Jim Long. These guest rooms, designed by Native American artists, are deeply rooted in cultural traditions but express themselves in surprising ways. These artist rooms take the hotel guest room experience to another level."

Acclaimed SWAIA Native American contemporary artists Heidi Brandow, Nani Chacon, Rhett Lynch and Ehren Kee Natay will kick off the Artist Room project. These New Mexico artists have received local and national attention including accolades from SWAIA. Nativo Lodge partnered with SWAIA to select these featured artists through a juried submission process.

Rhett Lynch Creates Artist Guest Room at Nativo Lodge in Albuquerque

Rhett in Front of Prayer Painting - Photo by Leo York

Rhett in Front of Prayer Painting - Photo by Leo York

Rhett Lynch (Diné) has been painting, sculpting, writing and acting for over thirty years. His art conveys the stories and experiences of his indigenous heritage as well as provoking thought and emotions. Lynch’s room features a work of art that has 175 prayer ties over the bed, a design that reflects the east morning light and giclee prints on the walls.

Rhett’s praryer tie painting above the bed offers prayers of gratefulness and peace to guests of the room who will sleep under this painting. The large painting on the West wall is a continuation of giving people a visual and spiritual feast and is evocative of Rhett’s work with layering color. Guests will also encounter two pieces on the wall adjacent to the mirror above the sink which will give a cathedral like effect.

See photos of the room’s creation on Facebook

About the Artist Guest Rooms at Nativo Lodge:

Nativo Lodge has commissioned four Native American contemporary artists to transform guestrooms into works of art. This bold artist room project is the first of its kind in New Mexico. “These new artist rooms offer our guests a very unique experience unlike anything else in New Mexico,” said Heritage Hotels and Resorts, Inc. CEO, Jim Long. “Most people experience art in galleries or  museum settings.   The opportunity for our hotel guests to sleep in a guest room that is an art piece in itself, promises to be one of the most exciting and stimulating experiences anywhere.  These artist guest rooms, designed by emerging Native American artists, are deeply rooted in cultural traditions but express themselves in surprising ways.  These artist rooms take the hotel guest room experience to another level. ”

Nativo Artist Room Reservations are only available by calling Nativo Lodge at: 505-843-5300 or 888-628-4861

Artist Room Collage.jpg

Prayers for Eternal Healing

For the last two months I have been working, creating a painting for Joan. What a journey it has been. The path took a month longer than expected to complete. There were obstacles, some anticipated, some not. A friendship was created in the process, weaving it's way through the fibers of the canvas, the paint, and the ninety-nine prayer ties. At this moment the painting is in a crate somewhere between Alameda, NM and Calabasas, CA. Prayers, they have the finest journeys...

Sunday Morning

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Early Saturday morning I auditioned for a film "Employee of the Month" staring Jessica Simpson. I came home, ate a tuna sandwich, and continued to work on Joan's painting, "Prayers for Eternal Healing." I have been in the studio for over 12 hours now. I hope I sleep late this morning.....