Jackson Clark II

Jackson Clark II

Jackson Clark II, beloved owner of Toh-Atin Gallery in Durango, Colorado, and a tireless advocate for Native American art and culture, passed away on August 28, 2025, after suffering a stroke. He was 75 years old.

A celebration of his life will be held on September 29, at 1 pm in the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College. The doors open at noon and a slideshow will play from 12:30 to 1, prior to the program.

Born on March 21, 1950, in Durango, Colorado, Jackson was raised in a family deeply rooted in the traditions of the American Southwest and Native American art. His father, Jackson Clark Sr., founded Toh-Atin Trading Company in 1957, naming it after a powerful mesa called Toh-Atin—meaning “No Water” in Navajo—located near the Lukachukai Mountains on the Navajo reservation. His mother, Mary Jane, was the daughter of a trading post owner in Blanco, New Mexico. Together, they built a legacy around cultural appreciation, commerce and storytelling that would define Jackson’s life.

Jackson and his sister Antonia were immersed in the world of Native American crafts from a young age. While other families might vacation at beaches or theme parks, the Clarks traveled across the American West, meeting artists and delivering weavings and jewelry to museums and shops. These experiences laid the foundation for Jackson’s lifelong respect and passion for Native culture and craftsmanship.

He attended the University of Colorado, earning a degree in journalism—skills he would later use as a sportswriter for The Durango Herald and then to chronicle the stories of Native artists, the history of their crafts, and the evolution of the art world through his blog and gallery work. During college, he paid his way by selling Navajo weavings and turquoise jewelry—a trade he had learned firsthand.

After college, Jackson spent winters as a ski instructor at Purgatory and summers buying and selling art. But his real calling was always tied to the gallery and to the artists whose work filled it. Along with his family, he transformed Toh-Atin Gallery into one of the country’s most respected Native American art galleries. It became more than a business—it was a bridge between cultures, a place of education, history, and human connection.

Jackson was never one for a "real job" in the traditional sense, and he liked it that way. His work—whether teaching skiing in sub-zero temperatures or loading up the truck with Navajo rugs for a trip—was driven by joy, not obligation. He often said that when you do what you love, it never feels like work.

He forged deep relationships with Native American artists—especially Navajo weavers, silversmiths, and painters—many of whom became lifelong friends. He was known for his respect and sensitivity toward Native cultures, shown not only in how he represented their art but in his quiet acts of service. Jackson organized winter clothing drives, hauled firewood for elders, raised funds for water access and animal rescues, and remained a steady source of support for those in need on the Navajo reservation and beyond.

As Paulita Lomaomzaya, a Hopi staff member at the gallery, noted, “He built mountains of riches in the next life with all the unselfish ways he’s helped people.”

Beyond his work, Jackson was a devoted father to his sons, Edward and Nick, one of whom became part of the family business—Ed traveling for wholesale sales. Jackson was also a proud grandfather. In recent years, he found companionship with his partner Kristine McCann of Santa Fe, and her daughter Darcy, forming another circle of love and family.

Jackson Clark II is survived by his sister Antonia Clark; sons Edward (Teresa) and Nick (Katie) Clark; five grandchildren, Aidan, Gabby, Owen, Sawyer and Stetson; nephews J.R. and Jeff Starns; his partner Kristine McCann and her daughter Darcy. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Jane Clark (d. 2023), and his father, Jackson Clark Sr. (d.1997)

For those wishing to make a gift in memory of Jackson contributions can be made to the Jackson Clark II Internship Fund for the Center of Southwest Studies at foundation@fortlewis.edu or FLC Foundation, 1000 Rim Drive, Durango, CO 81301 or to the Navajo Water Project at DigDeep at www.navajowaterproject.org or 110 W. 11th St., Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90015