Elmer yazzie biography

Elmer Yazzie is a Navaho Christian who has been painting and teaching about art and faith for 35 years.  The son of a reformed minister, he was born on the Navaho reservationin Shiprock, New Mexico, and is a member of the "Where Two Waters Meet" clan.  Yazzie's sixth grade teacher at Rehoboth Christian School recognized his artistic abilities and gave him some art supplies to begin him on his journey as an artist.

Throughout his school years, Yazzie continued to paint and gave away some of his work as gifts.

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 After high school, he attended Calvin Collegein Michigan where he obtained a B.A. in Art Education.  Upon graduation in 1976, he returned to Rehoboth Christian School where he began his teaching career.

Yazzie's art combines the spirituality of the Diné, or Navaho, with his Christian faith ("Diné" means "The People').

 In light of this, he says that there is no word in the Diné language for "artist."  Rather, art and& Elmer Yazzie | Biography - MutualArt FERY