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All images of Helen Hardin's artwork are copyright Helen Hardin/Cradoc Bagshaw. Helen Hardin
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| photo © Cradoc Bagshaw |
Helen Hardin, (1943 - 1984), was an abstract artist whose work was strongly influenced by her Native American heritage. Helen was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the daughter of internationally recognized artist Pablita Velarde - a descendant of the Tewa Indians (Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico), and Herbert Hardin, an Anglo high-level government employee.
Helen’s first five years were spent in the shadow of Black Mesa, at Santa Clara Pueblo, where her first language was Tewa, and where her first perspectives on the world were formed. Thus began what was to be a complex and brilliant, but brief life.
Hardin left Santa Clara Pueblo with her family at the age of six. She was never initiated into a clan, and her paintings reflect less authentic detail than was employed in her mother Pablita’s more traditional work. In fact, being strong-minded and individualistic Helen found the traditional style to be less of a challenge, less demanding, than the complex styles she would develop in her own sophisticated, dynamic designs.
Add to that Helen’s response to her heritage. According to Helen Hardin’s friend, artist John Nieto (as told to Helen’s biographer, Jay Scott) Helen dealt head-on with the pain of what it actually means to an Indian in America. While many Indian artists deal with a tourist’s idea of Indian imagery, according to John, “Helen dealt with the real thing. Even when it meant remembering the heritage they tried to take away from her. Even when it caused her hurt,” said Neito. “She was doing a dance not easily done.”
One of the milestones in Helen’s artistic life came in 1968 in Bogota, Columbia. Until then, she had assumed that people bought her paintings because she was the daughter of Pablita Velarde. But in Bogota, no one knew of her mother and, on the strength of her work alone, Hardin sold twenty-seven of her paintings. From that point, she knew she could be an artist and would not have to paint in the shadow of her famous mother.
In the early days of her artistic life Helen painted, in her own words, “cute little Indian paintings” and traditional realism while simultaneously she struggled with a personal and artistic revolution. Finally breaking free of the traditional mold, Helen’s work became strongly geometric and increasingly abstract. She was, all agree, a perfectionist throughout her life. Even when her imagery became more daring, her style remained excruciatingly meticulous, and she required that each piece be perfectly harmonious.
In 1982 Helen was diagnosed with breast cancer. Not only did she continue to paint with a healing determination, but her work following the diagnosis became increasingly spiritual and compassionate. Shortly before her death at age forty-one, Hardin said, “Listening Woman is the woman I am only becoming now. She’s the speaker, she’s the person who’s more objective, the listener and the compassionate person.”
Helen Hardin was a consummate and complete artist at the time of her death, and one can only wonder where her art would have led her if she had been allowed more time to confront life.
In a PBS interview in 1976, Hardin said, “I have a great need to be remembered, and I’ll be remembered through my paintings. I have a great drive inside me to be the best. I think the reason I don’t fear death is because I know that I’ll always be here through my paintings. I have a lifetime, no matter how long or how short to do it in, and I want to be good at what I’m doing. I want to make it complete. It’s the reward of living and the reward I have to give to those who survive me. It’s the only thing I can give that’s really me.
Biographical Notes:
Helen Hardin’s life and work is eloquently documented in a critical study written by Jay Scott, and richly illustrated with photographs by Helen’s husband, photographer, Cradoc Bagshaw. “Changing Woman, The Life and Times of Helen Hardin”, by Jay Scott is out of print but can be found used on the Internet.
Besides the numerous one woman shows she had, Helen’s work has been exhibited at many major museums including: the Heard Museum, the Institute of American Indian Art, the Wheelwright Museum, National Museum of Natural History, the Philbrook Art Center, Joslyn Art Museum, and the Mitchell Indian Museum.
Helen’s art work won numerous awards including the Avery Memorial Prize at the Heard Museum, in Phoenix, Arizona.
In 1976 Helen was featured in a thirty minute PBS documentary on her life and work as the only woman painter in the series “American Indian Artists”. The six episodes in the series, including Helen’s, were shown internationally, and nationally. This DVD is available at: www.madisonartshop.com/helen-painter.html
In 2003 the IAIA Museum (Institute of American Indian Arts) in Sante Fe, New Mexico dedicated its Performance Gallery in Helen Hardin’s name.
6420 N. Campbell Ave. • Tucson, Arizona 85718 • [email protected] • (520) 529-7002 |