Pictorial (includes Yei, Yei bi Chai and Sandpainting) Weavings
Navajo pictorial weaving has been a mirror of the Navajo experience, with the first documented mention of pictorial weaving in 1840. When the railroad reached Gallup, New Mexico, in 1882, its arrival was reflected in the appearance of a train in a weaving. American Flags, railroad cars and elements such as cattle, chickens, horses, eagles and 5-pointed stars soon appeared. Some of the most intriguing pictorials represent traditional elements of Navajo culture and spiritual life. In the 1920s and 1930s the powerful medicine man, Hosteen Klah, wove ceremonial rugs that were copies (purposefully not exact copies) of sandpaintings that were created and destroyed in the same day. Soon it was common to find Yeis (Navajo Holy People) and Yei bi chei dancers portrayed on weavings. Isabel John, the most famous of the pictorial weavers, passed away when the automobile in which she was riding was hit by an intoxicated driver in December 2004. For more information on this wonderful weaver, click here. We have three of her weavings on our last Pictorial page.
For additional information and an article on pictorial weaving by Jackson Clark, click here. |  | |
Minnie Yazzie has created this detailed pictorial that has all the images for healing. The Medicine baskets, the bear, feathers, and the Four Sacred Mountain ranges. The entire weaving is done in finely spun wool in natural colors, except a blue mountain and a yellow mountain. Measuring over 3 feet by 5 feet, this is an exceptional example of creativity and craftsmanship.
Pictorial weaving depicting life in Navajo Nation. The scene is situated in the desert, Monument Valley mountains are in the background, cows, sheep and trucks are important to the people. The figures are moving about the homestead. Measuring 19 1/2 inches by 24 inches. The colors are neutral and the size perfect for a wall hanging.
Navajo life as Isabel John liked to depict it, the old way. Pictured is a Hogan, the traditional round house, the four sacred mountain ranges are to the north, south, east and west, livestock, the weaver's tools and endless other symbols of the Navajo weaver. Isabel had a specific color palette that she dyed her wools and this helps distinguish her work from other pictorial weavers. Measuring 61 inches by 53 inches.
"Round Dance-2nd Night of the Squaw Dance"- Isabel John is one of the finest pictorial weavers with a 50 year weaving career. She has been considered the matriarch of the "Many Farms pictorial style". Isabel unfortunately passed in 2004 in an automobile accident. As a young weaver, Isabel started weaving in the Two Grey Hills style, then in the 1960's she switched to Yei bi Chi and her third phase was Pictorial Landscapes, like the one pictured. This fabulously detailed dance scene is close to 4 feet by 3 feet.
"Pictorial Yei be Chai" by Navajo weaver Lilly Smith. Fabulous pictorial featuring Yei be Chai dancers in front of a landscape of Monument Valley, Utah. The colors are bright and the figures expressive. This exceptional weaving is almost 4 feet by 8 feet.
Pictorial weaving featuring petroglyph images in hand spun wool. Very unique and individual wall hanging, with a goat, dog, Kokkopelli (the flute player), the hand of the creator, and rain symbols. Natural shades of brown and gray are accented with touches of red, like Kokkopelli's shoes, the sign of the four directions, and a blue lightening bolt. Measuring 20 inches by 23 inches, this is a great size to hang anywhere.
" Yei Pictorial"- Featured is a large Navajo weaving woven in a striking color combination of red, white, black and gray. Woven by Jackson Dean from the Teec Nos Pos area of Red Rock Arizona. Jackson was born in 1967 and has been featured in the the Focus/Santa Fe magazine of June /July 1996. Jackson Dean has woven this fabulous pictorial with a central panel in the rug that has traditional Yei figures standing with corn, and the border has a feather pattern. Yei are the spirit people of the Navajo and feathers are the connector between heaven and earth. This is a spectacular weaving.
Birds, butterflies, and mountains are included throughout this weaving, that has a repeated design of a chief blanket. This is a very sophisticated, contemporary interpretation of several different old regional styles. Weaver Tabitha Bitsui has put a lot of artistic design into this 37 inch by 71 inch pictorial style weaving.
Mae Morgan is in her 80s and is still actively weaving her 23 inch by 34 inches size rugs. We look forward to her biannual visits, when she comes up to Durango to bring us her latest creations. This rug features feathers and corn two of the sacred symbols of the Navajo people.
Yei weaving in beautiful earth tones measuring 41 inches by 27 1/2 inches. This rug was woven in the 1980s and is in excellent condition.
