Andrew Tsinhnahjinnie

Andrew Van Tsihnahjinnie Interview at his home in Phoenix, AZ on October 9th, 2000. Also in the interview is his Wife Minnie McGirt and his Daughter Hulleah.

The interview was done by Kathy Flynn, who is the executive Director of the National New Deal Preservation Association and the New Mexico Chapter of the NNDPA.

Diné painter Artist Andrew Van Tsihnahjinnie (1916-2000) is recognized as one of the finest of 20th Century Navajo artists and was one of the most versatile of all Southwestern Indian artists. He went through many moods, solidifying a style momentarily then turning to something new and utterly different. His subject matter stayed faithful to his heritage even as his style changed. He was chameleon-like in his ability to change and adapt. Some of his best work is his portrayal of Navajo life and ceremonies, and he is known for his attention to detail in paintings. Over the period of his career, Tsihnahjinnie signed his name in several spellings. Some signatures are A. Tsinajinnie, Tsihnahjinnie and Tsinajinnie.

Andrew Van Tsinahjinnie (Yazzie Bahe meaning Little Grey) was born near Chinle, Arizona (Rough Rock) in November 1916, and he had been drawing since he was a child. He was also known as: Andy Tsinajinnie, Andy Tsinajinie, Andy Tsinajininie, Andy Tsinnaijinnie, Andy Van Tsinajinnie, Andrew Van Tsinajinnie, Andrew Van Tsinajinie, Andy Tsinahjinnie, Andrew Van Tsihnahjinnie.

He attended elementary school at the Indian School at Fort Apache, but ran away and returned back to the reservation. He then attended school in Santa Fe and became a student of Dorothy Dunn at the Santa Fe Indian School. He was an avid student and was known to have stayed in the studio painting until forced to return to the dormitory. Following his graduation, he went to work as an illustrator for the Indian Service.

In 1977 he suffered with a serious illness and had not been able to do much painting or teaching, but he kept his love of the old ways. Tsinahjinnie grew up herding sheep and riding horses and his love for that life was what he wanted to portray in his paintings. He was married to Minnie McGirt, and they had seven children.

Designated an Arizona Living Treasure, this fine artist has work included in the permanent collections of the Denver Art Museum, the Thomas Gilcrease Institute of American History and Art in Tulsa, Oklahoma; the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona; the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff, Arizona; the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa; the Millicent Rogers Foundation Museum in Taos, New Mexico; the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC and the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian Art in Santa Fe--just to name a few.