M aureen Nelson has been consciously creating sacred art for over 20 years. She found destiny in what at the time seemed like a happenstance encounter with the Wixaritari in 1990. Little did she know her adventure to join the Gathering of the Eagles in Nambe Pueblo would change her life. Within hours of her arrival, her camp was joined by Mariano Valadez and several other Wixaritari, spending the next few weeks sharing stories and art in what they described as from the beginning times.

D uring those days, Maureen learned about the meaning of art according to the Wixaritari, which overall function is to communicate with the Gods or their ancestors.

Each band of color represented a doorway or portal in which the Maraakame (Shaman) travels to the spirit world and in which to return.

Traditionally, every action in the creation of this art is a prayer. When Maureen expressed her similarities of experience with the Wixaritari, she was greeted with laughter and told that was because they had met since the beginning times where all is one.

“Blueback Beads in a Roe”

This Beautiful 8 Foot Fish is called "Blueback Beads in a Roe" -  So life like you swear you are looking in an aquarium!  Made of glass roller beads in only two colors!

Bead Inlay As An Art Form

B ead inlay is a unique and rare art-form. Italians have done bead inlay for centuries and the pieces are rarely seen outside of Italy. Italy is famous for its bead production and art. Their high end inlaid table tops go for as high as $40,000 dollars. Bead inlay has been dabbled with to some extent in other European countries but Italy is undoubtedly the premier bead industry in the world.

Zak the Buck Prancing Around"   ©Maureen Nelson 2004  Deerstaff1.jpg

Here’s “Zak the Buck” Prancing around on a staff for ArtsWalk. Do you have a beautiful skull that you would like to have Maureen bring back to life? It sounds a little spooky but Maureen tell us that when she put the spirit bead in Zak’s third eye, he jumped out of her hands. Poor Zak was a roadkill.

"His Spirit Lives On"   ©Maureen Nelson 2004  Deerstaff3jpg

This Beautiful and complex beaded "Mandala" is titled Spiral Out.

Go Lenny! Flying Through the Universe 
Mixed Media, cedar root, beads, beeswax [approx. 18"x25"]
©2005 Maureen Nelson
Co-created with children and parents in Children's Sacred Space
A spontaneous expression of the Traditional Artists Guild in memory 
of Leonard Walden [1946-2005 ]

Coming Soon!

Maureen's Protozoa!