When Ayesha Clark was 12 years old, her horse, Red Star, disappeared, presumably stolen in the night.
Six years later, Red Star is still missing, but not completely gone from her life.
A vision of her pony inspired Clark to paint Red Star roaming in a red canyon.
Clark, an 18-year-old senior at Montezuma-Cortez High School, took a red ribbon in collage and mixed media for the art work, called “Lost Vision,” at the Heard Museum Guild American Indian Student Art Show and Sale in Phoenix.
“It really felt great,” she said.
Clark, the daughter of Dan and Vida Clark of Towoac, also sold $800 worth of art at the exhibition, which featured artwork from American Indian high school students from around the United States. Clark is a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.
A picture she drew of horses dressed as war horses was photographed to be used in the Heard Museum’s card collection. Proceeds from the card sales fund college scholarships.
Clark plans to go Fort Lewis College next year to study art. A fan of the video game, “Call of Duty,” Clark dreams of becoming a video game designer.
Other Montezuma-Cortez students took accolades at the same exhibition.
Ahanabah Finley, 16, won three ribbons for a beaded cedar bag, a Navajo rug and an amulet pouch. Her art pieces sold for a total of $800.
Finley, daughter of Jerry Finley and Arlene Nez-Finley, enjoys art.
“I’m not perfect at it, but it’s a way to express yourself and get your mind off things,” said Finley, who is Navajo.
Tronson Ware, 17 , a junior at the high school and a Ute Mountain Ute, sold a charcoal drawing of a woman for $200. He is the son of Marcianne Wing.
Montezuma-Cortez students Stacy Benally and Tyana Ariviso also submitted art to the show.
The students are taught by Deb Harriman, the Montezuma-Cortez art teacher.
jhaug@durangoherald.com