R. C. Gorman

R. C. Gorman
Born	Rudolph Carl Gorman
Nationality	Navajo, American
Education	Arizona State College (now Northern Arizona University); Mexico City College (now Fundación Universidad de las Américas, Puebla)
Known for	Artist Oil painter Lithographer Sculptor

'Natoma', patinated bronze sculpture of a Navajo dancer by R. C. Gorman, East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawaii

Rudolph Carl Gorman (July 26 1931 - November 3 2005), born to Carl Nelson Gorman and Adelle Katherine Brown, was a Native American artist of the Navajo nation. Referred to as "the Picasso of American art" by the New York Times, his paintings are primarily of Native American women and characterized by fluid forms and vibrant colors, though he also worked in sculpture, ceramics, and stone lithography. He was also an avid lover of cuisine, authoring four cookbooks, (with accompanying drawings) called Nudes and Food.

Biography

Gorman was born in Chinle, Arizona. His mother was Adele Katherine Brown, and his father, Carl Gorman, was a noted Navajo painter and teacher who later become a code talker during World War II.

Gorman grew up in a traditional Navajo Hogan and began drawing at age 3. His grandmother helped raise him, recounting Navajo legends and enumerating his geneology of artist ancestors. She kindled his desire to become an artist. While tending sheep in Canyon de Chelly with his aunts, he used to draw on the rocks, sand, and mud, and made sculptures with the clay, with his earliest subjects including Mickey Mouse and Shirley Temple.

He credited a teacher, Jenny Lind at Ganado Presbyterian Mission School, for his inspiration to become a full-time artist. After he left high school, he served in the Navy before entering college, where he majored in literature and minored in art at Northern Arizona University.

Notable achievements

In 1958, he received the first scholarship from the Navajo Tribal Council to study outside of the United States, and enrolled in the art program at Mexico City College, where he learned of and was influenced by the work Diego Rivera. He also later studied art at San Francisco State University and worked as a model.

Gorman moved from California to New Mexico, opening his Navajo Gallery in Taos in 1968. It was the first Native American-owned art gallery.

In 1973, he was the only living artist participating in the “Masterworks of the American Indian" show held at Metropolitan Museum in New York. One of his pieces was selected for the cover of the exhibit's catalog.

Recognition and collectors

In 1983, Stephen Park and Chuck Henningsen published "R.C. Gorman: A Portrait".

Harvard University recognized him for "notable contributions to American art and Native American culture" in 1986, and Mayor Dianne Feinstein of San Francisco declared March 19 to be "Gorman Day".

His famous friends and collectors of his work included Elizabeth Taylor, Danny DeVito, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Barry Goldwater, Gregory Peck, Erma Bombeck, Lee Marvin, Jackie Onassis and even fellow artist Andy Warhol, who silk-screened a portrait of Gorman that hung in his bathroom.

Late life

In October 1997, the FBI began collecting information regarding numerous suspected sexual relationships RC Gorman had with children that spanned over 20 years and involved transporting children across state and international boundaries for illegal sexual activities. The investigation lasted more than a year and no charges were filed. The FBI concluded that although the investigation had uncovered credible evidence that Gorman participated in child sexual abuse, the only provable cases had occurred many years prior to the five year statute of limitations.

In 1998, he donated art for Tom Udall's campaign for election to the U.S. House of Representatives, and in 2003, donated his personal library to Diné College in Tsaile, Arizona.

On September 18 2005, Gorman fell at his home and was taken to Taos’ Holy Cross Hospital. On September 26, he was transferred to University Hospital (in Albuquerque). He died at age 74 on November 3. New Mexico governor Bill Richardson ordered flags flown at half-staff in his honor.

Influences

Gorman learned about the work of the Mexican social realists: Diego Rivera, David Siqueiros, and Rufino Tamayo. He became inspired by their colors and forms to change from abstraction to abstract realism, using abstract forms and shapes to create his own unique, personal realistic style, recognizable to all who are acquainted with his work. While in Mexico, he also learned stone lithography from a master printer, Jose Sanchez. He used lithography throughout his life as a means of making original multiple images of his inspirations, often working by drawing directly on the stones from which the lithographs were printed.

Gorman collected many Taos artists including several oil paintings by Bill Rane, whom Gorman said was his favorite Taos painter. Bill died on September 2, 2005 and Gorman fell ill only 16 days later. They both had long time galleries on Ledoux Street in Taos, New Mexico. Following their deaths it was often stated in Taos that it had been a very sad fall (Autumn, 2005) on Taos' Historic Gallery Row, Ledoux Street, home of Gorman's Navajo Gallery and Bill Rane's RANE Gallery next door. It was, indeed, the regretful end of one more important era in the history of Taos, the yet small town--and still--the Western Dowager Queen of the American Visual, and Literary, Arts.

Awards and honors

• Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts, College of Ganado, Ganado, Arizona (1978)
• R.C. Gorman Day, State of New Mexico (January 8, 1979)
• Doctorate of Humane Letters, Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, New Mexico (1980)
• R.C. Gorman Day, San Francisco, California (March 18, 1986)
• Humanitarian Award in Fine Art, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts (May 1986)
• New Mexico’s Governor’s Award of Excellence (1988)
• Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona (1995)
• Alumnae of the Year Award, National Association of Colleges and Universities (November 1993)
• Honorary United Nations 50-year Chairman for New Mexico (1995)
• Camino Real Award, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Santa Fe, New Mexico (1995)
• Los Amigos del Turismo Cultural Award, Santa Fe, New Mexico (1996)
• After Gorman's death, New Mexico governor Bill Richardson ordered flags flown at half-staff in his honor (2005)

External references

• RC Gorman's Gallery Page
• Houston Chronicle Obituary
• Article in the Free New Mexican
• Obituary in the Free New Mexican
• Albuquerque Tribune Obituary