The Gift Dance of Taos Indians (also called "Taos Indian Gift Dance)

Gene Kloss

Kloss' raisonné by Eugene Sanchez has a section in volume I that offers "Descriptions of Native Dances", pages 263 - 265. The "Gift Dance" is described as "Throws, throw-aways, or giveaways, involving gifts of food, coins, and other items tossed to bystanders at some point during a dance, still flourish among the pueblos, as well as other Native American tribes."

The dancers and spectators are from the Tiwa Pueblo tribe that live at the Taos Pueblo in Taos, New Mexico, based in a 95,000 acre reservation. To the right of the composition is the Red Willow Creek which flows from the mountains through the Pueblo. The Pueblo was in existence when the first Spanish arrived in 1540 and has remained little changed through the centuries. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the United States

Gene and Phillips Kloss lived most of their lives in Taos and were an integral part of the community, attending many of the yearly dances and ceremonies, many of which she recorded in her prints.

This impression was from the collection of Darwine Bailey who owned the Artist's Alley Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, purchased from the artist in 1957.