FULL BIO
Marlon Magdalena, aka Ælu'æki (translates to "Young Elk", It is his Jemez name), was born in 1985 and grew up in the Pueblo of Jemez, a federally-recognized tribe in New Mexico. He is an artist, educator and performer of Native style flutes. Flute and song making is his art and shares his art through the flutes he makes and through his performances. Art has been a large part of his life. He draws and paints but currently specializes in making several types of flutes found in North America. He is also the Instructional Coordinator at the Jemez Historic Site. He educates the public about his Jemez culture through numerous presentations that he gives throughout the year.
His life is centered on his family and community of Jemez Pueblo where he has gained a lot of knowledge, and it is where he continues to learn new aspects of who he is. He proudly participate in all aspects of Jemez Life; like, speaking the Jemez Language, planting Jemez corn, singing Jemez songs, and dancing Jemez dances.
His First Flute
Marlon bought his first flute in 2007 at a local powwow and fell in love with the sound, the construction, and ease of play. After that moment, he became curious about this wonderful instrument. He researched and learned about Native Flutes on the internet, and his eyes opened up to a whole new world of instruments he didn’t know before. Through his research, he has been able to learn more about his own cultural heritage and he continues to learn more about flutes from Jemez and from other countries around the world.
My Performances
“When I perform I try to present myself in the most respectful way that I can. I dress how a traditional Jemez Man would for any of our special occasions, because that is who I am representing. I also represent the Flute Spirit. In Jemez, we say that if you are performing in the plaza, or at other places, you are performing not only as yourself, but as the spirits you are dancing, drumming or singing for. I sing through the flute, I give the Flute Spirit a voice with my breath, my heart and my mind.”
Past Presentation (Online Article)
Music, archaeology come together at Aztec Ruins- Farmington Daily Times, July 3, 2016
(Site Established June 2009)
PERFORMANCES
- Alan Houser Sculpture Garden, Santa Fe, NM
- Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, Santa Fe, NM
- Pueblo of Jemez Welcome Center, Jemez Pueblo, NM
- Jemez Red Rocks Arts and Crafts Show, Jemez Pueblo, NM
- Tribal Libraries Fundraisers
- Coronado Historic Site, Bernalillo, NM
- AMP Concerts, Jemez Historic Site, Jemez Springs, NM
- Albuquerque Old Town's Plaza Vieja Gazebo, NM
- Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
- Bosque Redondo Memorial, Fort Sumner, NM
- Poeh Cultural Center, Pojoaque, NM
- Indigenous People’s Day October 8th, 2018, Santa Fe Plaza, NM
- 4th Annual Bears Ears Gathering, Bears Ears National Monument, Utah
- New Mexico History Museum, 2018, Santa Fe, NM
My Logo
One line follows the outline of my clan, COYOTE. It ends with the lightning bolt which is my initials, MM. The stars represent my middle initials, TK.
