Under One Sky and Daniel Ketelhut: Shifting Realities at Sparks Gallery

 By Patricia Frischer

Michelle Kurtis Cole

Curated by Sonya Sparks, Owner and Chief Curator of Sparks Gallery (San Diego Cherokees), and Alessandra Moctezuma, Gallery Director and Professor of Art at San Diego Mesa College, the website states that this show Under One Sky deals with three themes: indigenous survival and resilience, art as a recording of knowledge and spiritual  interconnectedness.

This is surely true, but an easier way to see the exhibition is to think about the past, the present and the future.  All three times are present in the work of Michelle Kurtis Cole. We find a buried feather that has to be excavated from layers of history. It reveals a shiny presence, a reminder of the enduring bird species and a symbol of honor, connection to the spiritual world, and the responsibility to live with integrity. It is in fact a modern work of art, that reaches backward to show us the way forward.   

Randi Nuanes gives us a portrait of a young woman in the traditional dress of her tribe. It could be at any period of time.  But it turns out this is a self-portrait of the artist and this is how she actually dresses today. Diana Decoteau on the other hand is depicting a tribal chief, but he is surrounded by all sorts of contemporary notations. The soft encaustic wax paintings of Tiffany Bociek actually have native American women in 19^th century western clothing. They hark back to a nostalgic view of an assimilated culture.

Destiny Green jumps us forward to the present with photographs in circular compositions of women of today. While Destiny Green, the last of the 6 women artists chosen for this article is firmly contemporary with fluttering moths made of dried bougainvillea flowers and a sensual stretch of mirror, like a river holding steady on the horizon.

Finally,  Cody Cottrell  and Carlo Castrejon are moving us forward. Cottrell references Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvius Man from around 1490. It not only illustrates the ideal human proportions based on the writings of the Roman architect, but symbolizing the Renaissance connection between humanity, geometry, and the universe. Castrejon man and woman are exploding off the surface of the canvas. The man looks inspired by graffiti tamed by the muralist of our own Chicano Park. The woman is mother earth waiting to spring forward to take us to safety and lead us to a better, more colorful existence. 

This is only a partial view of the exhibition and there are many more artists included from all over the US. As always, we encourage you to go and see for yourself. 

Randi Nuanes

Diana Decoteau

Tiffany Bociek

Destiny Green

Norma Pizarro

Norma Pizarro - detail

Norma Pizarro

Cody Cottrell

Carlo Castrejon

Carlo Castrejon

Daniel Ketelhut: Shifting Realities

Did realities shift...not exactly,  but this enjoyable show did strongly remind one of Arshile Gorky, the Armenian-American who combined abstract expressionism with surrealism….but without the surrealism! Ketelhut starts with a doodle and embellishes which does allow for abstraction, but the expressionism is left in the eye of the beholder. 

Daniel Ketelhut

Daniel Ketelhut

Daniel Ketelhut

Under One Sky and Daniel Ketelhut: Shifting Realities

Sparks Gallery
On view until May 3, 2026
530 Sixth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101
Hours: Mon, Thurs. Fri 10 to 6, Sat 11 to 7, Sun 2 to 5. Tue and Wed by appointment
More info Sonya Sparks  619-696-1416