A Tribute
By Marti White Deer Song
Dear Artists 4 Peace,
I am deeply moved that you chose to dedicate an issue to my dearest friend, loyal supporter and husband, Blue Spruce Standing Deer. We first met in 1993 and immediately recognized each other. However, in the complexity of human events it took us another 16 years to come together as forever partners. Although born to an ancient culture, Taos Pueblo and the small iconic town of Taos, New Mexico, he belonged to the world and the world came to him. He had friends in many countries, and I was often with him when a new friend recognized him for the first time while he was sitting in a bar or restaurant.
He could be a trickster, and often lived up to the reputation of artistic temperament, but a soft and open heart is often protected with a few spikes. If there was a flare-up, it never lasted long. His art, while recognizably Native American, was unique and could never be mistaken for another’s work. In the past three years of his life, he discovered a new abstract style, and a different brighter, bolder pallet.
Although he is now in his new location in the spirit world, he continues to touch people with his art and life. We who love him, didn’t realize how near he was to that world during the past few months of his Earth life. His energy was strong, and when he painted, he listened to his favorite Country Western, Folk, and Native American music, often singing along and taping his chair in time with a pencil. He didn’t look or act sick and only the oxygen canula gave away his struggle to breathe.
Oh yes! His other talent was music. He had a beautiful, powerful singing voice, and although he sang native songs, he did so in a style uniquely his own. He was recently involved in a documentary on Mabel Dodge Lujan and her Tiwa Indian husband Tony Lujan who happened to be his great grandfather. He often opened screenings with one of his songs.
Thank you for honoring a special human being who will never be either gone or forgotten. Just because he isn’t working on the physical plane these days doesn’t mean he won’t touch you.
Marti White Deer Song