Waterbird's Nest: Monument Valley Film Festival

Dale Auger

Dale Auger: On Art, Blood and Kindred Spirits
by Terri Mason

Defining Dale Auger in one sentence is akin to releasing the colours of a diamond in one cut. It can’t be done. It’s the many facets that release a diamond’s true brilliance, as it is the many facets of Auger’s life, education, ancestry, experiences and beliefs that have shaped and polished his work into the internationally acclaimed and collected artist that he is today.

Born a Sakaw Cree from the Bigstone Cree Nation in northern Alberta, Auger’s education began as a young boy when his mother would take him to be with the elders. “I used to say to myself, ‘Why is she leaving me with these old people?’ – but today I see the reason; I was being taught in the old way.”

Auger’s respect for traditional teachings led him on a journey to study art, opening the door to a doctorate in education. He is a talented playwright, speaker and visual artist whose vividly coloured acrylics have captured the attention of collectors that reads like an international ‘Who’s Who’ spanning English to Hollywood royalty. The essence of his work is communication, and now Dr. Auger has come full circle, interpreting the life of his culture – from the everyday to the sacred - through the cross-cultural medium of art.

Read the rest here:

http://www.daleauger.com/printversionbio.cfm

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Monument Valley Film Festival

The 2nd Annual Monument Valley Film Festival is making a call for entries to all Native American film makers for this year’s 2008 festival. This year’s festival will be held July 4-6, 2008 here on the Navajo Nation in Kayenta, Arizona. Like the previous year, the festival will be focusing on original films directed, produced or written by Native Americans.

The festival was started last year by Shonie and Andee De La Rosa of Sheephead Films. Well over 500 people and film makers attended the film festival last year to watch over 40 Native American films from all over North America. This years festival will once again be held in conjunction with the 4th of July Celebration here in Kayenta, AZ which is one of the biggest rodeos and pow-wows held on the Navajo Nation.

With the 4th of July Celebration going on and the thousands of tourist passing through Kayenta on their way to Monument Valley and the Four Corners area attractions, we expect attendance to be quite high.

All Native film makers are encouraged to submit their original works to this year’s film festival. First time and youth film makers are strongly encouraged to submit their works. All entries will be considered for screening after review. There is not an entry fee and admission to the film festival will be free to the public.

Submission guidelines are simple. All entries must be written, produced or directed by a Native American. Subject matter in films submitted must be tasteful. Remember, the festival is free to the public. This includes children. Films promoting drugs, alcohol, gangs, sex, etc will not be considered for public screening. Explicit language or violence in a film does not exclude it from possible selection for the festival. Use common sense when submitting a film(s). All submissions must be on DVD or MiniDV. Please, when submitting DVD, make sure it works by testing it on different DVD players before you send it to us. Please fill out all submission forms completely and clearly for each film submitted.

The Official Monument Valley Film Festival web site is available for more information and you will also be able to download this years submission forms for the film festival. Deadline for submissions is June 1, 2007.