European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 27, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Anita yellow half sonnet often blends Navaho culture into her work As an army graphic artist at Schwab sch a mind Germany As in this painting of a dancer. Artist Anita Sonni making Indian traditions come alive Story and photos by Joseph Owen Stuttgart Bureau like a desert sandstorm in her Nativ Arizona spec 4 Anila Yellowhair Sonni leaves traces of her passage almost everywhere. Sonnie a graphic artist Tor the 38lh signal in operations Section at Bismarck Cavern in Schwabish Amund Germany has applied her skills to everything from Rodeo posters to to shirts. Bui much other work reflects her life directly. As a Navaho born on an Indian reservation near Burnt Corn Ariz Sonnie often incorporates Navaho culture into her work. As a Soldier she has designed the Crest for her battalion which was formed nine months ago. My relatives Are All artistically inclined. My grandmother weaved my Mother weaves. In school i was always doodling she said. My favorite subjects Are female dancers. I do both Navaho and Apache because i m familiar Wilh their Sonnie studied the Silversmith s Trade of the Santa Erma Bombeck of . Institute of american arts but soon turned to acrylics and visual communications. Then she earned an associate s degree in advertising at Maricopa technical College in Arizona and began working for Kook radio and television in Phoenix a week later. She stayed there 7 i years then got the urge to Lake a Long was always interested in the military. In Lack. In High school i was in Roth said Sonnie she had sought her parents permission to join the army when she was 16. They declined her Art director in Phoenix a former Marine revived her interest in the military so she joined the army for a tour year hitch in 1985. After three months of Basic training she went to Lowry fab in Denver for training As a graphic specialist. That proved to be redundant. Most of the Lime sat around and look care of she class she said twas fun though. I d rather go Back and teach the Sonnie spent her spare time in Denver painting outdoor murals full of Indian designs. In her office at Bismarck Cavern she prepares charts slide presentations and other visual aids and on top of that i get guard duty and she also tackles a Tot of personal projects on the Side designing and producing birthday cards logos theater flyers and clothing emblems. In her spare Lime she plays basketball her Mother was her greatest Arl Islic inspiration my mom has always pushed me. She was More or less my agent for a White Sonnie said. She did a lot of Selling Tor now Sonnie Sells her work much of it bearing Navaho Rno lits through an agent in Phoenix. Her parents her brother two of her Lour Sisters and Many other relatives still live on the reservation a new Jersey sized tract of land which spills from northeastern Arizona into three neighbouring slates its scenery is prominent in landscapes she has painted. Sunnis said she does t miss the reservation because she left it when she was 9 years old Sonnie Hopes for a teaching assignment when her Lour of duty ends next july. She plans to leave the army in 1989 and to revitalize her cultural lies by moving Back to Arizona. Beyond that she has modest expectations. I want a couple of horses in the Back Yard and a big old studio she said. And hey i want to be As healthy As the next person but this Battle of labels has got to Slop. The other Day i heart someone hawking sugar free laxatives. What do they i Hank i m going to do pour in Over ice Cream and say i can have All the laxatives i want now that it s sugar free and i Don t have to count calories regularity has never been fattening in this country so Why the hoopla i Felt like writing the company and saying now if you could just take out the Ca Fleina and the sodium you d have the perfect Atler school we be become paranoid about labels. I be got so Many grains of wheat on my pantry shelf it s like Harvest time in Iowa. Hall the time i Don t know what i m eating. I have Salt teis peanuts sugarless cheesecake meatless sausage and wine without alcohol. Sometimes i feel like my entire menu has been created in a Laboratory and the research rats hated it. It s purely personal but i think italian food is the Best i be Ever put my Mouth to there is a reason for this. I have never eaten a pizza Wilh no additives stamped across the top of it. I have never seen a bubbling pal of Spaghetti sauce that was Low in calories As Tor garlic bread dripping with butter and Parmesan a Naturel bite your Tongue. I Don t know How much longer italian chefs can hold out against Public pressure but 111 Slaga a monday october 27, 1936 telethon if they need it. Diet disciples Lell us daily to watch every single calorie we put into our Mouths. It All counts and in Ali turns to fat. Certainly the Absurdity does not escape you. I suspect we can look to a future and see pencils Wilh no additives Fingernail polish that will give you Liber in your diet and whole Grain aspirin. I guess i m wailing for some Gutsy company to come out with an advertising Campaign thai says we be done everything to this product we can. We be jammed in Lull of so Many preservatives and fattening ingredients you la feel guilty for the next 30 years of your life. Bui. It s Worth it. Live a i was sorta hoping it would be a laxative. By 11 guess not. 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