‘Unhinged Art’ featured at Dancing Spirit 

 The “Unhinged Art” exhibition at the Dancing Spirit Center for the Arts features the artwork of Nanas Fuller, a descendant of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. The art gallery in Ignacio was filled with family, friends and community members, Friday evening, Nov. 7, where Fullers’ art was on full display. Fuller opened the show with a short speech, where she thanked her family, as well as Dancing Spirit, for making the event possible. Fuller, who is 18 years old, is currently an intern at the gallery as well as a senior at Big Picture High School in Durango, Colo. 

On opening night, twelve canvases were on display as part of the new exhibit at Dancing Spirit; the selection of paintings included characters created by Fuller as well as pieces that took inspiration from some of Fullers’ favorite role models. Fuller said of one of her art pieces, “Fox represents another version of me. He represents, like, that chaotic little kid or teenage version of me.” Her character fox was created by her 2021. In the beginning he had a different design and over the years she changed his look, until his debut at her recent art show. Pink and blue paper were used as a background that helped to further highlight the art on display. Half of the pieces were sold during the opening of “Unhinged Art.” 

“Unhinged Art” was inspired by Fuller wanting to challenge creativity, as well as look at creativity from another perspective. “I looked at creativity in a different way other than, like your normal typical standard way,” Fuller said. 

The road to this art show took a long time, taking a full year to complete. Fuller has been involved in art since she was around eight years old, which helped spark her passion. Unhinged Art is Fullers’ first time displaying her art professionally.  In an interview, Fuller said “I’m very excited, this is my first time. I didn’t think that, like a simple hobby, would just get me to this point.”

Dancing Spirit Executive Director, Kasey Correia was also fundamental in organizing this event. “The depth, I mean, she’s so rich in depth; it blows my mind,” Correia said. “If I had, you know, a sliver of the talent that this this young woman has, I’d be blessed.”  Correia hopes that more Native American students will come to the art center looking for opportunities to explore or display their art in Ignacio.

Throughout the entire process of creating and promoting “Unhinged Art,” Fuller emphasized that her family was always there to help her. Whether it was her mother Kateri Largo, who traveled back home to help with Fullers’ art show, or her grandma, Karen Washington who helped her stay on track during the last couple months of preparing for the art show. “You know, she’s going to go places if she still stays on this path, and her mom and I are here to support her and guide her,” Washington said.

Fuller would like to become an animator or manga artist in the future. She would also like to try this out in a big city like New York or Tokyo. “Unhinged Art” is on display at the gallery through December. Fuller hopes to have another art show in the future with Dancing Spirit. “Creativity doesn’t have limits. It’s supposed to be unhinged, and it’s supposed to be like scary … but yet beautiful at the same time,” Fuller said.

 About Dancing Spirit Center for the Arts:

Dancing Spirit Center for the Arts is a 501(c)3 in Ignacio, Colo. that is dedicated to providing our community with programs that enhance creativity and fellowship, that promotes education, appreciation and enjoyment of the arts and that celebrates the cultural heritage of our unique population.