Claim Joy
       
     
Take Only What You Need
       
     
Precious Knowledge
       
     
Standing In Power
       
     
Release Sadness
       
     
Sun, Moon, Earth, & Noor Align
       
     
Alma Pausing
       
     
Children Make It Rain
       
     
Natural History
       
     
Alma 4/10/13
       
     
Alma: 4/12/13
       
     
Alma And Child
       
     
1950's Self Portrait
       
     
1950's Self Portrait 2
       
     
Friends No Matter What
       
     
What! No Quinceañera?
       
     
Lamar
       
     
Thinking
       
     
Alma
       
     
Facio Nova Omnia II: Colonial
       
     
Facio Nova Omnia II: Indigena
       
     
Alchemist
       
     
Facio Nova Omnia I
       
     
Say Cheese
       
     
Inretrospect
       
     
The Red Shoes
       
     
The Red Shoes
       
     
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Untitled 42.jpg
       
     
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Action
       
     
Resolution
       
     
Untitled 48.jpg
       
     
Untitled 45.jpg
       
     
Untitled 47.jpg
       
     
Untitled 49.jpg
       
     
Untitled 50.jpg
       
     
Untitled 51.jpg
       
     
The Source
       
     
Blind Not Blind
       
     
Our Connection II
       
     
The Wait
       
     
The View
       
     
Our Connection I
       
     
In Succession
       
     
Twice Thought
       
     
Claim Joy
       
     
Claim Joy

Lorraine García-Nakata, Pastel on paper, 7ft 6ft, 2021

Centuries of colonial indoctrination has made us lean toward guilt, justifying our existence, fear and other joyless default mechanisms. This woman has found her power in envisioning what she needs and desires. She reclaims joy! – Lorraine García-Nakata 2021

Take Only What You Need
       
     
Take Only What You Need

Lorraine García-Nakata, pastel on paper, 6ft x 7ft, 2021

In the early 1990’s Wanona La Duke spoke with a small group of us. Among other things she shared (passed to her by others) was that to keep things in balance you must, “Take what you need, and leave the rest.” While it seems simple, it is a challenge to live this in practice when applying it to the overall aspects one’s life because it can include bank accounts or any areas of, or illusion of, “ownership.” Here, this contemporary First Nation male stops to ponder, consider this and so many other ways to navigate life..in balance. –– Lorraine García-Nakata, 2021

Precious Knowledge
       
     
Precious Knowledge

Lorraine García-Nakata, pastel on paper, 6ft x7ft, 2021

Children and their inherent quiet knowledge are an important point of this First Nation child depiction, “precious knowledge” that we as adults must learn to recognize and explore. Though she may be still, her mind and what she has to offer adult humans, if we pay attention and listen, is highly active. –– Lorraine García-Nakata, 2021

Standing In Power
       
     
Standing In Power

Lorraine García-Nakata, Pastel on paper, 7ft x 6 ft, 2021

It can take a lifetime to realize that your personal “power” is always there and available. All that a person has experienced, will experience, provides many levels of “precious” knowledge that you can engage, without moving, over-doing, or speaking a word. Where you stand, in the present, is a place of power. It is where you are supposed to be. – Lorraine García-Nakata, 2021

Release Sadness
       
     
Release Sadness

Lorraine García-Nakata, Pastel on paper, 7ft x 6 ft, 2021

Whether a wise elder, or young in life experiences, intense sadness can enter life. This feather evokes precious wisdom and the texture indicates energy. To navigate sadness, you must allow yourself to feel it, and then find its meaning. In doing so, sadness can be released, transformed, bit by bit. ––Lorraine García-Nakata

Sun, Moon, Earth, & Noor Align
       
     
Sun, Moon, Earth, & Noor Align

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, pastel on paper, 7 ft. x 6 ft., 2019

This drawing came forward during the period the sun, moon, earth aligned with the second birthday of my granddaughter, nieta Noor Villegas García. In this drawing, Noor in her future adult persona, turns to show her heart in hand. It is a visual of the power and strength my nieta revealed to me during her earliest weeks. Noor will be knowing regarding her purpose and will insist on having the room to spread her powerful female wings. In other words, she will not adhere well to a male framework pressing her to conform to a limited, submissive male version of her female position.

Alma Pausing
       
     
Alma Pausing

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, pastel on paper, 7 ft. x 7ft., 2015

Drawn October, 2015 while in Residence at the Galeria de la Raza/Studio 24, San Francisco, Ca.

As a repeating persona in my work (since 1974), Alma has seen and experienced many things. Here, Alma pauses, resigned to witness repeat experiences that are part of life and those experiences that cannot be skipped or bypassed. She is also resigned to witnessing the disappointing, ignorant, and sometimes harmful ways people treat each other. Knowing what she herself can do (and not do) in order to help counter these patterns, she pauses, clears the mind, takes a long slow breath, before initiating her next action.

Children Make It Rain
       
     
Children Make It Rain

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, Pastel on paper, 7 ft x7 ft, 2015

Rendered while in Residence October 2015 at the Galeria de la Raza/Studio 24, San Francisco, Ca. I have always felt that a human will evolve to its next phase of development when it can truly listen, hear, and act upon what its elders and smallest of children perceive and can share with humans who, at the ages in between, who feel they know what they need to know in order to navigate primary decisions affecting us all. Given the increased turmoil world wide that we are witnessing, I feel even more strongly that it will be these elders, along with some of the very, very young children, who will know what to do. It will require that the world become ready to hear and listen to what they have to say. The title, “Children Who Make it Rain,” recognizes the precious knowledge and power children have.

Natural History
       
     
Natural History

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, charcoal on paper, 7 ft. x 7 ft., 2015

“Natural History” references the scope and accuracy of our various histories. In that history resides the “precious knowledge” that our ancestors understood, yet is no longer part of our human education. . “Natural History” also acknowledges the African Diaspora in our various cultures. For example, when looking at the cultural lineage of México and Latin America, * “la Tercera Raíz––Third Root, Africa, with the indigenous seen as the First Root and the Spanish as the Second Root of Mexico.” “Natural History” is also about the act of speaking for ourselves, about ourselves––which I refer to as “first voice.” I was introduced to this idea in the early 1970’s when listening to Indigenous elders. It has been a powerful tool in my ability to self-describe and self-determine as a woman, an artist, mother, and as an art and cultural specialist initiating important shifts in the world.-Lorraine García-Nakata 2015

Alma 4/10/13
       
     
Alma 4/10/13

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, Alma Line Series, charcoal on paper, 22” x 30,” 2013

This drawing is one of over 40 drawings that make up the “Alma Series.” Quick line drawings in charcoal. Here, Alma is in strong, loud defiance. - Lorraine García-Nakata, 2013

Alma: 4/12/13
       
     
Alma: 4/12/13

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, Alma Line Series, charcoal on paper, 30” x 22,” 2013

Alma And Child
       
     
Alma And Child

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, Alma Line Series, charcoal on paper, 22” x 30,” 2012

1950's Self Portrait
       
     
1950's Self Portrait

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, charcoal on paper, 7ft.x 4ft. 2,” 2008

1950's Self Portrait 2
       
     
1950's Self Portrait 2

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, charcoal on paper, 7ft.x 4ft. 2,” 2008

Friends No Matter What
       
     
Friends No Matter What

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, charcoal/pastel on paper,

7ft.x 4ft. 2,” 2008

What! No Quinceañera?
       
     
What! No Quinceañera?

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, charcoal on paper, 7ft.x 4ft. 2,” 2008

Lamar
       
     
Lamar

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, pastel on paper, 7ft.1/2”x 4ft. 2,” 2007

When I draw, I have a general idea or concept of what I want to create. As this one progressed, it changed a lot, more so than usual (features, skin tone, expression, my color pallet) before reaching its final state. Once completed, I sat to view the work, to understand it, as I often do. I then realized she was my late daughter, Lamar whom I’d lost at birth, full term, on the day she was due (Jan. 16, 1981). This drawing let me know that she is now powerful, a woman, ancient, wise, grounded, & very present to help guide. I was surprised, but happily so. Yes, tears came, but from a grateful emotion, not sad. It was a gift. She was, is a gift. (I named her after a curator I worked with in Seattle, Wash.–the late, Lamar Harrington. She treated me well, guided me, at my very young age).

Thinking
       
     
Thinking

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, pastel on paper, 7ft.x 4ft. 2,” 2007

Alma
       
     
Alma

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, pastel on paper, 7ft.x 4ft. 2,” 2006

Facio Nova Omnia II: Colonial
       
     
Facio Nova Omnia II: Colonial

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, diptych-(left side) pastel on paper,

7ft.x 3ft. 9,” 2005

Facio Nova Omnia II: Indigena
       
     
Facio Nova Omnia II: Indigena

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, diptych-(right side) pastel on paper,

7ft.x 3ft. 9,” 2005

Alchemist
       
     
Alchemist

Lorraine García-Nakata, pastel on paper, 29"x30", 2005 Collection of Sandra Hernandez

Since my youth, a woman persona (wearing this specific blue trimmed dress), has been in a recurring dream. She provided grounding and comfort. Powerful and ancient, she studies the metaphysical, natural world, and inter-dependence of all things (basic elements, hidden small truths, their connection to her destiny and the revelations found when not deliberately looking or searching). The ruby elements in her ring provide: instinct/energy for inspiration and courage. Facing away, symbolizes her ability to continue, sometimes complex/challenging work, without requiring assistance or “approval” from others to commit and proceed. - Lorraine García-Nakata 2005

Facio Nova Omnia I
       
     
Facio Nova Omnia I

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, pastel on paper, 29”x 30,” 2004

Collection of: David Bishoff

Say Cheese
       
     
Say Cheese

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, pastel on paper, 29” x 30,” 2002

Inretrospect
       
     
Inretrospect

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, charcoal on paper, 7ft.x 3ft. 9,” 1990

The Red Shoes
       
     
The Red Shoes

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, diptych-(left side) charcoal on paper,

7ft.x 3ft. 9,” 1990

The Red Shoes
       
     
The Red Shoes

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, diptych-(right side) charcoal on paper, 7ft.x 3ft. 9,” 1990

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Untitled 40.jpg
       
     
Untitled 42.jpg
       
     
Untitled 46.jpg
       
     
Action
       
     
Action

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, oil pastel on paper, 28”x 30,” 1985

Resolution
       
     
Resolution

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, oil pastel on paper, 28”x 30,” 1985

Collection of: David Telstar

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Untitled 51.jpg
       
     
The Source
       
     
The Source

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, oil pastel on paper, 28”x 30,” 1985

Blind Not Blind
       
     
Blind Not Blind

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, charcoal on paper, 22” x 28,” 1980

Our Connection II
       
     
Our Connection II

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, charcoal on paper, 22” x 28,” 1981

The Wait
       
     
The Wait

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, charcoal on paper, 22” x 28,” 1980

The View
       
     
The View

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, charcoal on paper, 18” x 24,” 1980

Our Connection I
       
     
Our Connection I

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, charcoal on paper, 20” x 30,” 1981

In Succession
       
     
In Succession

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, charcoal on paper, 18” x 24,” 1980

Twice Thought
       
     
Twice Thought

Artist: Lorraine García-Nakata, charcoal on paper, 18” x 24,” 1980