[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 24999]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO ARTIST R.C. GORMAN

 Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I pay tribute to not only a fine 
individual, but an amazing artist, R.C. Gorman, who passed away on 
November 3 at the age of 74. R.C. Gorman was an artist appreciated not 
only by New Mexicans, but he was also well respected nationwide and 
internationally.
  Rudolph Carl Gorman was born in 1931 in Chinle, AZ. As the son of 
Navajo Code Talker Carl Gorman, he grew up on the Navajo reservation 
surrounded by the unique culture of the Navajo people. Gorman is best 
known for his paintings, sculptures, and lithographs of American Indian 
women wrapped in blankets.
  A long time resident of Taos, NM, R.C. Gorman's work became a fixture 
of Southwestern style of art. In his life, he had more than 20 one-man 
shows. A distinctive exhibition for Gorman was the ``Masterworks from 
the Museum of the American Indian'' held at New York's Metropolitan 
Museum of Art. This exhibit was particularly unique, because R.C. 
Gorman was the only living artist represented.
  When I pay tribute to individuals, it is important for me to make 
sure I am appropriately expressing who they were and the contributions 
they made during their time with us. I don't believe I can state it 
better than R.C. Gorman himself in his book, The Radiance of My People. 
He wrote, ``If I am remembered at all, I'd be very surprised and 
amused. I don't really think about it or worry about it. But I suppose 
I would like to be remembered that I was an earnest worker. That I 
cared. That I know anyone can get what they want if they work hard 
enough. After all, I'm just a little boy from the reservation who used 
to herd sheep at Black Mountain.''
  I extend my thoughts and prayers to his family and friends at this 
time. It is my hope, that they remember the great impact he made during 
his time with us from his work that inspired us to his friendship that 
endeared us. I express to them my deepest sympathy.
  It is a great loss to the State of New Mexico and the Nation. I know 
myself and many people will miss his spirited personality and he will 
always have a place in our heart.

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