September 21, 2011
% Minority & Small Business Week
Page 29
Art Honors
the Ancestors
which her mother would keep in a
drawer in her room.
“I still had to really learn what
One day, her mother asked her
it was I was doing,” she said. “I what she was doing, and Pitt said
didn’t even know the word “mar “I do art.”
keting,” and 1 had to become real
But Pitt explained, within their
quick-steady because my art did traditional Shaptin language, the
sell, and then I had to learn about word for art doesn't exist, so when
money.”
her mother asked, “What is art?”
Pitt said much of her successes She responded, “I make pretty
as an artist also stem from the things, and people buy them.”
support of the galleries that have
Pitt said, “My mother then told
shown her work throughout her me, ‘Oh, well you have to do the
career. One such space is the very best you can.’
Quintana Gallery located in Down
“And that’s what I did,” she
town Portland.
said.
Founded in 1972 by Cecil and
Although Pitt reflects back on
Rose Quintana, the art space is her years as an artist with grati
unique in that it is the only gallery tude, after a life-time of creating
that shows contemporary Native works that honor her ancestors,
American art created exclusively she said it is time to give back to
by Native Americans.
the community she currently lives
“I love being the conduit to within.
artists to show their work and ex
“I’m in the giving back stage,”
pose their culture to our commu she said.
nity,” said Cecily Quintana, the
Pitt said her advice to a young
director of the gallery and daugh working artist, inspired by her
ter of the founders. “I appreciate mother, is to do the very best work
how supportive the city of Port possible. “No shortcuts,” she
land has been to-the gallery, and said. “And don’t expect every
how loyal our clients are in their thing to be easy. You know you’re
support of Native-American art.” an artist when you feel compelled
Quintana said, when an artist’s to do art every single day.”
work speaks specifically to a cul
Currently, Pitt is working with
ture, it can often be difficult to the Confluence Project and teach
find a venue that is the perfect fit ing high school and 8th grade
for them. “It can be hard to find a students about the indigenous
gallery because there are few fo people of the Colombia River. She
cused specifically to certain cul said she has also been teaching
tures.”
art workshops at Celilo Village
She said, however, this is what near the falls in the Colombia River
makes the gallery, which has re Gorge.
mained open for 40-years, so spe
When The Dalles dam was built
cial.
in 1957, she said the Army Corps
Pitt agreed.
of Engineers moved the village
According to Quintana, “when and promised them homes. “But
people hear Lillian is coming to that didn’t really happen until two-
the gallery, they are so excited years-ago,” she said.
because they want to know the
“When you reach a certain level
person behind the work because of success you have to give back
she is so magical.”
to your community,” she said.
Quintana gallery, said Pitt, was “The village has been lied to and
one of the first places to show her tromped on, so I decided to help
work, and she remembers when it them instead of my own reserva
was just a “little tiny store,” at the tion, the Confederate Tribes of
time of her emergence as a young Warm Springs.”
Indian artist.
The kids, she said, are so proud
“It was such a treat to find to do something of their own. “It
them,” she said. “I feel very privi was very empowering to the whole
leged.”
village.”
Although neither of her par
Throughout her time as an art
ents witnessed the artist she has ist, Pitt has been dedicated to
become today, she said they would sharing her history and culture of
be very proud to see how she has her people for a more peaceful
celebrated their culture.
tomorrow and created art, which
After Pitt’s father died in 1975 has shown individuals from all
and during her first moments as walks of life the beauty behind
an artist, her mother resided in a Native American traditions.
nursing home, where Pitt would
She said, “We have to take care
bring her self-made mask pens, of each other like family.”
c o n t i n u e d f r o m page 19
Cecil Quintana and
his daughter Cecily
are a major force in
theirfam ily’s
business Quintana
Gallery, which was
founded in 19 72
and is the only
place in the entire
city that shows
contemporary art by
Native Americans
created exclusively
by Native
Americans.
PHOTO BY
M indy C ooper /
T he P ortland
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