Native American arts festival returning to Litchfield for 30th year

By Madeline Ackley
Twitter: @Mkayackley

The Gathering at Litchfield Park is back this January for its 30th year celebrating Native American heritage through the arts.  

This invitation-only festival showcases the work of more than 100 of the Southwest’s finest Native American artists and artisans of numerous tribal affiliations.

The traditional and contemporary works of jewelers, silversmiths, weavers, painters, potters and sculptures will be on display, and some for sale Jan. 8-9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Award-winning weaver Rena Begay of Piñon has shown her sought-after rugs and blankets since the festival’s earliest days, and she will return this year with four entries.  

Begay has been weaving since she was 17 years old, learning all she could from her mother and aunt. She has since entered her works of art into competitions for decades, and passed down her love of weaving to one of her daughters. 

Begay spoke to The Independent through her son Leroy Begay, who is himself a silversmith and will enter his own works of art into the competition.

Begay told The Independent that with age, her weaving has begun to slow down, but said she will “keep going…until it’s time to stop.” 

Begay’s providing fewer pieces than in years past, but her entry will include a Chief’s Blanket, a style of weaving she’s done since the 1980s, and for which she’s become known for her color and design variations. 

The Gathering is sponsored by the city of Litchfield Park, as well as the Heard Museum, the Wigwam, Arizona Commission on the Arts and Art Works.

“We are proud of the role our festival plays in helping the public understand, enjoy and collect Native American art,” the city of Litchfield Park wrote on its events Facebook page.

The festival will be held in historic downtown Litchfield Park and admission is free and open to the public.

Madeline Ackley can be reached at mackley@iniusa.org or found on Twitter @Mkayackley.