In Sedona, Turquoise Tortoise Gallery welcomes Peterson Yazzie to the gallery’s First Friday on Sept. 1 with an artist’s reception from 5 to 8 p.m. and an artist talk at 6 p.m.

The mixed media paintings and carved wood wall sculptures of Yazzie bring contemporary interpretations to the creation mythology, ceremonies and day-to-day life of his Navajo people.

Yazzie was the first in his immediate clan to be a painter and to earn a master’s degree. His strong education in fine arts and his commitment to represent all aspects of his people has led to repeated awards from prestigious art shows such as the Heard Museum in Phoenix and the Santa Fe Indian Market.

Arizona State Museum and the Museum of Northern Arizona have honored him, as has the Eitejorg Museum in Indianapolis, Ind., and the Wheelwright Museum in Santa Fe, N.M.

In Yazzie’s paintings, certain motifs appear and reappear: Hummingbirds, symbols of the four directions, the moon, stars and images of the two adjoining buttes that tower over his ancestral homeland. His Yei wall sculptures are carved from found cottonwood, painted with acrylic and adorned with natural exotic feathers. Yazzie will unveil new paintings and new wall sculptures during the opening.

Stop by Turquoise Tortoise Gallery on First Friday evening to enjoy light refreshments, an informative artist talk and explore all that Peterson Yazzie: Beauty and Balance has to offer.

The exhibition continues through Sunday, Sept. 10. Located at Hozho, 431 State Route 179, the Turquoise Tortoise Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Call 282-2262 or visit TurquoiseTortoiseGallery.com for information.