On Tuesday, May 13th the Weisman Art Museum unveiled our newest acquisition, chosen by Director Alejandra Peña Gutierrez. Virgil Ortiz—the groundbreaking Pueblo artist behind Tahu: Leader of the Blind Archers—spoke generously to a small group of attendees about his background, process, and the universe he is building to bring awareness to the painful history of indigenous resistance and revolt while celebrating the ingenuity and resilience of contemporary and future Native American artists and cultural icons. The monumental, glazed raku bust, now on view in the Weisman's Julie and Babe and Davis Gallery, depicts Tahu, a leading character in Ortiz’s Pueblo Revolt 1680/2180 saga, reflecting pueblo women’s strength, wisdom, and resilience.

In Ortiz' mythology, a young Tahu is challenged to an archery contest against a Castilian fighter. Unaware of Tahu’s extraordinary archery skills, she defeats him. Enraged by the defeat, the Castilian troops retaliate and viciously blind Tahu and all the young girls in the pueblo, using heated swords to pierce their eyes. Unwilling to accept this unjust punishment, Tahu hones her skills with a bow and arrow and recruits an army of blind archers. They relentlessly battle the invaders and drive them out. Tahu, a humble pueblo girl, becomes a superhero. She tells her fellow warriors, “You are no longer blind when you can see through your fear!”