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Show Jeff Allred/The Salt Lake Tribune John Nieto has brought his ."children," paintings from the past decade, for an exhibit at the University of Utah Museum of Fine Arts' Browning Gallery. Show runs until March 7. Artist finds his comfort zone by having fun with fame, keeping child's perspective By Judy B. Rollins THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Someone should paint New Mexico artist John Nieto. He was a visual feast. Black hair pulled back into a single braid is like an exclamation mark down his back. He wore a black hat, black shirt, black boots with silver scrolls, aviator glasses, turquoise and silver jewelry, all wrapped in a huge red and orange Southwest-design blanket/cape. Mr. Nieto could be a Native American character from one of his paintings. Is he flamboyant? Mmmm, maybe, he hesitated. Dressed for comfort? Yes, he agreed. "This is the way I dress. When I was invited to the White House to meet President and Mrs. Reagan, I had my wife call to see if I had to dress in a suit. If I did, I wasn't going. President Reagan said, 'By all means, be comfortable.' If I had to wear a suit, I'd be all nervous. When I wear this, I am calm. I make a statement. I am proud of me." Mr. Nieto, of Mescalero Apache and Spanish ancestry, slipped off his cape, rested his black hat, brim-down, on the coffee table, sipped a soft drink, and stretched his legs. The glasses came off. He was in his comfort zone, talking art, surrounded by the faces and forms, blazing colors and blotky shapes in 30 of his paintings. His "children," all beautiful, all good paintings hang on the walls of the University of Utah Museum of Fine Arts' Browning Gallery. "Those are my dogs, Bronco and Helga, German shepherds," Mr. Nieto said, pointing to the huge three-panel "Man's Best Friend." Mr. Nieto, Santa Fe artist, wife Renay, and son Anaya, 13, were in Salt Lake to oversee hanging of "John Nieto: A 10 Year Retrospective," an art exhibit at the museum until March 7. 'Selecting art for the restrospective is like judging a beauty pageant. All my paintings are pretty. Selection is a process of mental gymnastics. I love them all. If I didn't, they would never leave my studio." It is OK to talk of John Nieto artist. Suggestions of John Nieto, superstar, are not OK. "I'm a working artist," he said. "What I have is from hard work and a lot of luck." What Mr. Nieto has is an international following, several major exhibits a year, two adobe houses with studios in New Mexico, product recognition, and others who emulate his style. He anticipated that evening not a museum reception in his honor so much as a family reuni on. Wherever he goes, people who own his paintings follow. He may not remember their names, but he recognizes faces, especially when reminded of who owns which painting. "Yeah, it's flattering. Collectors who buy fine art are a passionate breed. They show up, carrying snapshots of my art. It's like sharing pictures of your children. These are eagles of industry and corporate giants who love my work and buy it." From kindergarten, or before, Mr. Nieto, 56, was an artist. "I never considered anything else. Art has totally dominated my dreams." What changed, he said, is philosophy. He has learned that there is time to work, and "It was July 4th. We were at the Mountain Spirit dances. We sat together for hours. I held my grandmother's little bony hand. We hardly spoke. As we sat, it became clear that being in New Mexico, and painting was what I was meant to do. I was a born-again artist, with a new sense of commitment." - Artist John Nieto play. With success, there is more time to paint. He produces; others market. Relaxation rejuvenates his spirit. "What I have done since December is piddling, lateral probing, having fun, experimenting." Mr. Nieto has fun with fame. He giggled frequently. "I am childlike. Others grow up. I have fun. Balance and remaining childlike are insurance against burnout. I- will still paint when I'm 85. I have the fire in my gutt." Earlier, Mr. Nieto lived and worked in Paris. "I did not feel personal fulfillment. I did not find there what other artists have found. Paris was not the center of the art world for me." He came home. "I visited my grandmother in Roswell. She wanted to see the dancers on the reservation. It was providential, my personal vision quest. "It was July 4th. We were at the Mountain Spirit dances. We sat together for hours. I held my grandmother's little bony hand. We hardly spoke. As we sat, it became clear that being in New Mexico, and painting was what I was meant to do. I was a born-again artist, with a new sense of commitment." The artistic journey was not without potholes. His broad strokes and bright colors were criticized. Adversity, too, became an ally. "Discontent is a prerequisite for valid art. My subject matter keeps me gentle. I don't shout; my paintings do. My art philosophy is like the president's - 'Speak softly and carry a big stick.' " Anaya, a tall handsome boy, wearing a Michigan sweatshirt, makes Mr. Nieto happy. "I was 43 when he was born. When he was a baby, he crawled the 50 yards uphill between the house and my studio. I felt another presence, and it was Anaya. He sat and watched me paint. When he was older, my wife got him a tablet, paint, brushes and a little easel. He copied me, did what I did, even to flicking his brush when he was through with a color. His art was so good, we saved it." Saved it, and sold it for $100, compared to $20,000 for the father's work, at fund-raisers for Indian and Hispanic ca1,1ses. "Since then, he's put away brushes for footban helmet. He plays quarterback," Mr. Nieto said. "He is the pitcher on his baseball team. It's OK. He is secure. He has a real sense of himself. Maybe later, he'll want to paint." Mr. Nieto stood, put on his big hat, wrapped his. cape, and disappeared - blending into his paintings. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. |
