Turquoise Mythical Horse

Minor differences between this painting and the one appearing on the cover of Margaret Cesa's publication The World of Flower Blue are color driven: a teal background color, a turquoise horse and a green, not yellow moon.  The horse's tail and mane are a pale tan, not yellow.  See the last two photos.

Pop wrote the Legend of the Mythical Horse as follows "Before the Spaniards came, the Indians had no means of transporttion except for huge, beautiful dogs they used for carrying and packing.   When the Spaniards came, they brought with them their beautiful Arabian horses.  All forms of life are sacred to the Indians, and these beautiful horses became especially sacred not only because of their beauty but because they were so swift and tireless."

(1906-1993) An East Indian mother and a father from Taos Pueblo represented a mixed beginning for Pop Chalee. Merina Lujan Hopkins grew up at Taos Pueblo, then attended and graduated from the Santa Fe Indian School.

Pop Chalee began her professional painting in 1936 after serving as the only adult attending the Santa Fe Indian School to study easel painting with Dorothy Dunn. Best known for her depiction of horses and forest scenes. Pop Chalee used watercolor with meticulous detail.

She was the first Native American painter included in Who's Who.

Prior to her death she was living in New Mexico. Margaret Cesa gathered information for approximately four years and published a book on Pop Chalee titled The World of Flower Blue Pop Chalee: An Artistic Biography.

[I was introduced to Pop at Leo and Buck Saunders' Gallery in Scottsdale and immediately commented "You look just like your paintings!". as she was pristinely dressed with not a hair out of place. It was a great privilege to meet this talented woman. Years later I was blessed with the purchase of a small painting by Pop. - Corinne]

Every collection of Native American painting ought to include an example of this woman's very special work. Pop Chalee's work is included in the exhibit "Beautiful Resistance: Works on Paper from the Heard Museum Collection" May 22 - December. 2005.