Right here in Sedona, visitors and residents can enjoy the fact that four of the six artists honored in Six Navajo Masters, a new exhibition at the prestigious Booth Western Art Museum, can be seen at a single art gallery.
Bryant Nagel Gallery is the newly merged former Lanning and Turquoise Tortoise galleries, two of the most established art galleries in Sedona, founded in 1986 and 1971, respectively, and acquired two years ago by Thomas and Jennifer Bryant Nagel, who could not be prouder of David Johns, Larry Yazzie, Tony Abeyta and Baje Whitethorne Sr., all talented Navajo artists represented at their gallery.
In association with the Smithsonian Institution, the Booth Western Art Museum, located just north of Atlanta, is the world’s largest permanent exhibition space for Western art and was named 2016 Reader’s Choice “Best Western Museum” in America by True West Magazine.
Abeyta, Johns, Yazzie and Whitethorne all traveled to Georgia for the exhibition’s opening. Also attending was guest curator Peggy Lanning, founder of Lanning and Turquoise Tortoise. For those who wish to visit the museum, Six Navajo Masters is on view through Sunday, Aug. 4.
In the meantime, Bryant Nagel Gallery welcomes visitors to enjoy these artists’ works here in Sedona. Several pieces are on loan to the exhibition but works by each of these four premier Navajo artists remain here to be enjoyed.
Visitors can also be among the first to view the newly merged Bryant Nagel Gallery. It has been a goal of the new owners since acquiring the two long-standing galleries to blend the extensive Native American art and jewelry collection, held at the former Turquoise Tortoise, with the contemporary art and jewelry at the former Lanning Gallery. Rather than continuing to segregate the Native American artists, this allows them to take their place alongside the other fine national and international artists represented.
It will take a while for all information to merge. In the meantime Bryant Nagel Gallery can still be reached at 282-6865, contact@lanninggallery.com, or lanninggallery.com. The gallery is located at Hozho, 431 SR 179 in Sedona. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
