From The Artist De Haven Solimon Chaffins:
"For as long as I can remember, my love of Nature has always played an important part of life. It was there I found a Peace. Yet - I didn't know how much I would need Nature, in order to heal. In early Summer my 2-yr-old little boy succumbed to complications of CP. It was horrific. And although, I knew his passing was coming; nothing prepares a parent for the child to die before them. It goes against Nature. Still - it was devastating. Fighting major depression, grieving, and taking care of my 8-month-old little girl was overwhelming. Yet, I did it because there was no one else to help me but myself. At times, people are caught in that similar situation. Every now and then, we would escape to the woods and soak up all it had to offer. And that was a lot. In the days following my son's untimely passing, my daughter and I found solace in the rain storms which would visit the surrounding landscape. The Elders would always feel that the deceased loved ones would bless the grounds with rain. It was meant as a kind of blessing; washing away the sadness....finding some sort of peace, a sense of renewal. And so, it is my hope you find a sense of renewal and peace in this room. Dragonflies taking messages to all the Deities who reside in the clouds. Taking the weight off your shoulders and giving it back to the earth. I was very drawn to the turquoise blue, as it's considered a color of protection. The color is used on windows and doors to ward off any negative energy. But for me, dark blues represent one of my favorite artists, Marc Chagall."
About De Haven Solimon Chaffins:
De Haven Solimon Chaffins was born in Portsmouth Virginia and is an enrolled member of Laguna & Zuni Pueblo. She attended the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM, and received an Associate of Fine Arts degree in 1990. In 1995, she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the College of Fine Arts, University of New Mexico. Chaffins took a number of years off to have a family. Her son Skye was born in June of 1996 but passed away at the age of 2 years old from complications of Cerebral Palsy. Her daughter Fauve was only 8 months old at the time. Severe Depression set in; she did not paint for a number of years. Although - a self-taught artisan; creating art was not her first choice. She wanted to study Mortuary Science. Unfortunately, since there were no programs available to study nearby; she became involved with Fine Art. To this day, she continues to find a way to intertwine Art & Memorial objects. Every work of art pays tribute to her son, Skye. She believes it was her daughter, Fauve who saved her. Chaffins will often incorporate her children in her imagery as Hummingbirds. In 2017, Chaffins became an advocate for Autism Awareness after her daughter was diagnosed. She is also an advocate for Mental Health & Suicide Awareness. Currently, select pieces of her work are part of a thought-provoking traveling exhibit making its way throughout the United States. The exhibition entitled, EXPOSURE: Native Art & Political Ecology is an exhibit supported by The Ford Foundation and the Andy Warhol Foundation for Visual Arts. She is featured alongside several other International Indigenous artists. Chaffins is the Signature Artist for the New Mexico Nursing Excellence Awards since its inception. This year was the 20th Anniversary of the NM Nursing Excellence Awards. Her imagery is also registered with the United States Department of Interior Indian Arts and Crafts Board, Washington DC. At this time - A mural created by Chaffins is on display at the MET in New York City. The mural entitled "Radon Daughter" is one of many artworks created by prestigious Indigenous artists. The group exhibition is called, "Grounded in Clay."