Depth of Humanity

Depth of Humanity by Michelle Tsosie Sisneros

Do I really understand . . .
My life
The world
Its people
Their hate
Their love
Full of despair ......  hoping beyond all hope,
Finding compassion ..... barely tolerating each other.
I guess I will never truly understand the deepness of all mankind,
So I guess to know is to understand
The depth of humanity

Born in Albuquerque in 1959, Michelle is the daughter of Carol and Paul Tsosie (Navajo).  Her marriage to a Santa Clara man shifted her orientation to Espanola, an urban center in the heart of the Rio Grande Pueblos, impacting the subject matter of her paintings.  Her Indian name So Whu Wa Tung translates to Basket in the Mist

In July 1989 she was awarded the Best of Fine Arts at the Fortieth Navajo Show at the Museum of Northern Arizona. Her work was included in an exhibition at the San Diego Museum of Man titled "Paths Beyond Tradition" (May 20-September 4. 1989).

Naranjo's work is in the permanent collection of the Heard Museum and she has won several First place awards at the Santa Fe Indian Market, as well as the Patrick Swazo Hinds Memorial Award for the most Promising Painter in 1981.

An artist featured in Patricia Broder's impressive publication Earth Songs, Moon Dreams Paintings by American Indian Women, Naranjo's involvement with fashion as well as art is revealed. 

Michelle shifted her last name from Naranjo to Sisneros during the 21st century.