Daniel D.L. Raven Valdes ascended August 21, 2011
WINGS OF LIFE
"WINGS OF VISION
ASCEND TO HEAVEN
WITH PRAYERS OF OUR PEOPLE
THAT WE MAY BE ONE
EAGLE OF THE EAST
RETURN TO US
WITH THE MORNING SUN
GIVE LIGHT TO OUR EYES
THAT WE MAY SEE
SPIRIT KEEPER
OF THE EAST WIND
BRING US DAILY
ALL GIFTS OF OUR
GREAT MOTHER AND FATHER
EARTH, WATER, AIR AND FIRE
TO HEAL OUR BODIES AND
LIFT OUR SPIRITS"
This blog welcomes your thoughts, stories and love about our friend Daniel. It's a place to give, receive and share.
When I lived in San Francisco I had a print of Daniels in my kitchen. It was a black and white that someone found at a yard sale, and I always wondered who made it because it has such a beautiful mystical quality. A few years later my (then) husband and I moved to Santa Fe and opened up a store in the Plaza Mercado called TouchStone. I stepped outside and noticed a gallery across the way called Father Sky and Mother Earth. I met Daniel, and came to realize it was his print that was in my kitchen, and how incredible it was that his gallery happened to be across from our store. Since then, back in 1992, Daniel has always been a wonderful friend. I loved seeing him around with his beautiful husky. Just the other day when I saw him, I was remarking to myself how translucent and radiant he looked. I feel like his energy helped bring me here to Santa Fe, and I am so sad he has passed onto the other realm. But I know his spirit soars free and he is visiting each of his loved ones and friends as he walks and leads the way.
ReplyDeleteI first met Daniel in 2005 when fellow photographer Lori Montoya interviewed and photographed him for an article I was writing on how the American Indian and native Spanish populations were being systematically pushed out of Santa Fe's old city through gentrification.
ReplyDeleteWhat most struck me about Daniel was that he exuded an inner confidence and graciousness one seldom encounters amongst artists--particularly Santa Fe artists. But Daniel was a real Santa Fe artist, not just a transplant who moved into the local art scene and pushed out the local artists. Father Sun-Mother Earth, his gallery, planted its roots way back in 1976, and for over thirty years, Daniel was adamant about remaining the "last man standing." He wasn't a bitter individual, just someone who knew his worth. He was a fixture of the downtown scene for friends of his, like Lori, and another fellow artist, Cruz Eagleheart, and with his characteristic modesty, likened his gallery to the Woolworth's lunch counter, always making his art accessible to anyone who admired it, whether well-heeled, or on a student budget.
Daniel's work was gorgeous, but his best work--painstakingly done on scratchboard--had to be experienced in person, to appreciate its intricacy and texture. He possessed an eye for color that was in keeping with the tradition of so many great New Mexican painters, not of the Georgia O'Keefe school, but in comradeship with the airbrush wielding artisans, waxing poetic over lowriding '63 Impalas in Española body shops.
May Daniel's spirit remain with all who ever knew him. He brought so much joy and good will to everyone's life he touched.
Sad to hear. Just walked around the house here in FL and realized we have 20 of his works, half dozen originals and the rest limited editions prints. Met him years ago when I lived in Colorado and stopped in and purchased something on every trip to Santa Fe.
ReplyDeleteJust heard the sad news about Daniel. He did the cover artwork for my Navajo Time Travel book "The Porthole To Time". I have references to both him and Lori on my website at www.rockymesa.com. Every January I check the weblinks in it to see if they are still active; that's how I ended up here.
ReplyDeleteIn quiet silence I will remember him always -
Michael Eugene Stoddard, author.
My name is Gene Kaplan....I never met Daniel, but was given a large print of his many years ago while living in Sedona, Arizona. I have had this print in my office, right above my desk, and have always admired it, and wondered what kind of person created this very spiritual work....now I know. My wife and I were looking at this piece together yesterday, and she said "It's really fantastic, isn't it?" She also asked me if I knew anything about the artist, I didn't, so we looked on-line and found all we needed to know. What a wonderful spirit he must have been, and still is....on a different plain. We would like to find out the title of our piece, if someone who might know would please contact us a kapiguy@cableone.net I would love to send a picture in order to find out. My phone number is (208)284-0515
ReplyDeleteWhat!? Daniel is gone? Oh man! We hung out in the late 80's & did some groovy sweats in embudo in the 90's. Jeez man! Well, I know you're diggin & groovin on your flights man. Peace out! T
ReplyDeleteOn a Friday night in August, 2008, my wife and stopped in Santa Fé while on our way across America on our honeymoon in a ragtop Mustang. Wandering around the town, we heard someone playing a flute inside a café and stopped in for a coffee.
ReplyDeleteDaniel was playing and in the corner was a huge drum and a couple of smaller drums but no drummer. After he finished, I wandered over to look at the drums and he approached me and asked if I could play because the man who was supposed to come and play couldn't make it. I said that I owned drums but that didn't make me a drummer. He disagreed.
He looked at me and then at his audience and said 'Grandfather sent me a drummer' and told me to just play - a good rhythm would come. And it did. We played together for a while, just a few pieces but it was the absolute highlight of my trip, which is saying something as I saw the Grand Canyon a couple of days later.
I play his music while I work now and then.
Daniel - I hope when you got to see him, that Grandfather didn't give you too hard a time for letting a wandering Irishman play the peoples' drum.
Paul Christopher Flynn
www.pcflynn.com
I found out tonight Daniel is no longer with us. I first met him through this beautiful flute painting many years before I met him in person. In 2002 I went into his gallery and met the artist behind the painting. What joy - it was like meeting an old friend.
ReplyDeleteIn 2004 I played music with Daniel and he encouraged me to share my poetry, which I did at the Gerald Peters Gallery that year.
In 2006, while filming my documentary, Mind the Phoenix, a film on the Hopi prophecies, I asked Daniel if he could play the flute in the film. We filmed him at his home with his beautiful husky.
I have beautiful photos of Daniel and his dogs ahd him playing the flute and of us together. If anyone knows where his husky is please let me know.
My dear brother Daniel, thank you for gracing us with your beautiful spirit, your art, music and hospitality. Now, you are playing flute like in your painting in the starry skies.
Your soul sister,
love and blessings of my heart to you
prayers to your family
Delphine Nova
www.delphinanova.com
I just found out that Daniel has left us. I met him in his gallery in Santa Fe well over 20 years ago, and on my numerous return trips I had many warm talks with him about his music and his art. The last time was a few years ago, and we had a transformational talk about life and death, beginnings and endings. I can still hear his voice and feel his presence. I will miss stopping to visit and see his art on my next trip. Farewell, my friend.
ReplyDeleteIt's 2014 and I've just found out that Daniel has left his world. It was June/July 1994 when I first met him. My boyfriend and I were moving cross country from Florida to California and happened to stop in Santa Fe for the night. It was such a beautiful spiritual town, we ended up staying 3 nights. I had just turned 21 and did not have much of an interest for art at the time. I was finding my way through many different houses that all had beautiful paintings. It was nice to look at but nothing that truly grabbed my attention. That's to say until I walked into Daniel's gallery. I was immediately touched by every piece of artwork that was on display. I was moved from the inside and overjoyed with the feeling I was experiencing. Kind of like a kid in a candy factory for the very first time. The nice lady who was working in the gallery saw that I was so over joyed she asked if I'd like to meet the artist. I was shy and nervous but said yes. Daniel walked out to the gallery from the back. His calm, gentle energy was so powerful and the vibrations of harmony became so overwhelming that I just started crying. Not a gentle tear down the cheek but a river that flew from my soul to his. I knew immediately that I was in the presence of a great man. I was touched by his being and moved by the way he connected life into his art. I am very deeply saddened by his loss on this earth but I know he is soaring with the eagles in the sky. "Loving Energy" is the piece I purchased that day and I will cherish it along with the passion he inspired in me to start my own collection of acrylics on canvas. Perhaps if I had never met him, I would not have taken the path of artist. Farewell my friend. You are missed!
ReplyDeleteHi Janet this is Josh Clothier I am wondering if you still have the "loving energy" piece by Daniel Valdes I have been searching for this piece for a long time. If you would please contact me about this it would be greatly appreciated thanks sincerely Josh Clothier cell# 231-388-3197
ReplyDelete