Growing up in White Horse Pass Village near Casa Grande, Donna Mendez learned the art of weaving miniature baskets out of horse hair from her aunt at the age of 13. Little did the Tohono O'odham woman know how far it would take her over the next 40 years.
After winning first place and best in show at a basket gathering at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Mendez was approached by "a woman from New York" who suggested she apply for a fellowship from the Smithsonian Institution. A phone call from the East Coast at 3 a.m. one morning notified Mendez she was one of five American artists to win in 2001.
"I never dreamed I would go to New York City. It was one of the highlights of my life," she said.
Besides spending two weeks in New York City, followed by another two weeks in Washington, D.C., Mendez — who now lives in Tucson — has traveled across the country demonstrating her craft. She has even had some international offers, although she has yet to travel that far.
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Mendez demonstrated her skills at a Navajo weaving show outside the Tom Bahti Indian Arts gallery in St. Philip's Plaza last Saturday. She accompanied Navajo weaving expert Steve Getzwiller, who displayed samples of his vast collection.
By introducing new materials, silk and alpaca, Getzwiller is hoping to revive the Navajo craft. While their methods differ, both artists have the same goal of keeping native traditions alive.
