Art community says goodbye to prominent Navajo artist

The work of Bahe Whitethorne, Jr. cuaght the eye of the world.

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The art community has said goodbye to prominent artist Bahe Whitethorne Jr., whose paintings have caught the eye of the world.


Bahe passed away on March 26. Bahe and his legacy will be honored in late May at the tenth Annual Shonto Music Festival where he was scheduled to be the featured artist.


“He would want the festival to go on,” said Troi Whitethorne, Bahe’s first cousin. “That’s how Buddy was. He loved life and he’d tell us to keep going forward.” His family and friends called Bahe ‘Buddy’.


Bahe’s art varied from styles and techniques that combined anime and abstract with the black canvas backdrop that infused the still life of Native traditional landscapes and portraits. Some of his collections touched base with his training on computer graphic design while incorporating the raw watercolor technique. But it was the flow of his paintbrush that could be easily seen in each stroke of his paintings no matter the technique he took on the canvas. His approachable and funny personality made appreciating his work more personal.


System Busters, which film Native American-based documentaries of influential people making positive changes in the lives of tribes across the earth, particularly through the education of the youth, recently interviewed Bahe. The documentary describes the value of money according to his traditional beliefs. He felt giving and receiving in exchange of what a person needed rather than using a dollar amount, was how he was raised on the Navajo reservation. Bahe, who had been known for surprising people with a free painting, felt it was a mutual exchange of being influenced by them in the moments of knowing the person.  


“You should see [their reaction],” he said. “They freak out like I am giving them money. I tell them I don’t just give my paintings away to just anybody, no, that’s for you. I feel my art work is supposed to help people.”


Bahe was not only a painter, he was a teacher and philosopher who left behind a legacy that has taken shape throughout his 41 years with his art demonstrations at local boarding schools and art shows. He gave the students who resided at the boarding schools a gift, an outlet which they will always carry like he did. The children he taught will always remember him.


“Buddy loved life. He was funny and always making jokes. We will miss him.” said Troi. Troi, also an artist, keeps up the art demonstrations at the boarding schools that Bahe had done.


He and Bahe grew up in the art world together and he remembers when Bahe had tried to find another career and found his way back to painting.
“He loved art,” said Troi. “His dad was an artist. When you paint you could lose yourself in the painting. Stress and negativity fade away. Buddy loved that.”

Troi tries to pass on that belief to the kids.


Bahe’s passing confused his family when he was found on March 26 outside a residence one cold Flagstaff morning, possibly suffering from hyperthermia. He did not remember how he had arrived there but was found to be disoriented and in need of medical help. The ambulance was called and Bahe unexpectedly died en route to the hospital when his heart just stopped.


Funeral services were held last Friday in Flagstaff, Arizona with friends and family in attendance.


The tenth Annual Shonto Music Festival is scheduled for May 31- June 2.