Original Design
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Completed Rug
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Hopi Manta/Navajo Sandpainting: Seventh Sandpainting, Beauty Way. This is called Bezh be-eeka, Stone or Arrow-point sandpainting. It is used in a healing ceremony lasting two nights. The central figure is Klayan-ehyahni, which means "he who was born under the earth." At his feet is an oval symbol with a ladder which indicates the place out of which he emerged. The Hopi Manta design was taken from a similar piece woven in the 1950's.
Weaver: Laurathena White
Courtesy of Kenneth and Michelle Balcomb, Private Collection
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Original Design
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Completed Rug
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Horses of the Sun: Based on the mythological Horses ridden by the Sun, this rug has incorporated into it elements of the four directions, the four times of the day and the four phases of the chief blanket. The Sun's fiery shield is represented in the center of this contemporary piece.
Weaver: Roy Kady
Courtesy of Dr. Kent L. Richards, Private Collection
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Original Design
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Completed Rug
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Hero Twins: The Hero Twins-Monster Slayer and Child of the Water are invoked in almost every Navaho ceremonial. Their adventures establish many of the Navaho ideals for young manhood. They serve especially as models of conduct in war and can almost be called the Navaho war gods. The Hero Twins slew most of the monsters, but they did not kill all of these potential enemies of mankind. Hunger, Poverty, Old Age, and Dirt survived, for they proved to have a place in human life. The exploits of the Twins, as well as those of other Holy People, define many features of the Navaho landscape as holy places. The lava fields, which are so conspicuous in the Navaho country, are the dried blood of the slain monsters.
Weaver: Anita Hathale
Courtesy of Dr. Dee Jones, Private Collection
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Original Design
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Completed Rug
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Corn Spirit: The Wind People brought seeds into the new world, and they planted them:
To the east, at White Mountain
To the south, at Blue Mountain
To the west, at Yellow Mountain
To the north, at Black Mountain
It was known about then that First Man was the spirit of White Corn. First Woman was the spirit of Yellow Corn. Their children also had spirit life within them and their names were Blue Corn Boy and Many-Colored Corn Girl. Together, these four decided how the earth should be divided.
Weaver: Anita Hathale
Courtesy of Chris and Paul Rechtin, Private Collection
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Original Design
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Completed Rug
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Pueblo Banded: Adapted from the banded wearing blankets of the Pueblo people during the early period of Navajo weaving. This rug also portrays elements of storm, lightning and sacred mountains.
Weaver: Alice Bahe
Private Collection
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Original Design
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Completed Rug
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Creation:The Navajo religion must be considered as a design in harmony, a striving for rapport between man and every phase of nature, the earth and the waters under the earth, the sky and the "land beyond the sky," and of course, the earth and everything on and in it. In order to establish and continue this rapport the beings which dwell in all these places must be controlled.
Weaver: Christine Yazzie
Courtesy of Chris and Paul Rechtin, Private Collection
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Original Design
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Completed Rug
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Spider Woman Cross/Chief Variant: Dinnebito inspired rug, the corners represent the four sacred mountains. A large Saltillo star serrated diamond dominates the center of this rug. Spider Woman designs complement the piece as a whole.
Weaver: Latricia Desiderio
Private Collection
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Original Design
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Completed Rug
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Great Star Chant: Contributed to the Great Star Chant this rug has elements of Spider Woman contained within it. The black background represents the night sky, with the stars overlaid and radiating from the center. Other elements included into the designs are the twin parallel lines representing the dualities of life.
Weaver: Eleanor Yazzie
Private Collection
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Original Design
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Completed Rug
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Interweave Overlay: Taken from several rugs, this rug depicts the ease with which multiple rug designs can be grafted together. The interweaving background adds some dimension while adding a different element into the rug pattern. The central diamond helps to unify the piece and adds a focal point for the whole rug.
Weaver: Alice Bahe
Private Collection
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