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Apr 1, 2015 · Selection of authentic Navajo rugs and weavings. Storm pattern, Two Grey Hills, Sand Painting and more from Toh-Atin Gallery, Durango Colorado.
- The Gift of Spider Woman: Symbols and Motifs in Navajo Weavings
- Representing The Teachings of Spider Woman
- Depicting The Navajo Homeland
- About The “Spirit Line”
- Controversy: The “Whirling Logs”
- Lighting Motifs Reflect Mythology
- Other Inspirations from Navajo Life
- The Use of Color
- Cultural Influences
- To Learn More
by Jerry Freund For the traditional Navajo family, the Holy People who created the Navajo were very powerful deities. They traveled on the “sun’s rays” and descended into the world on “lightning bolts.” It was Changing Woman who taught the Navajo how to live in “harmony,” but it was Spider Woman who gave them secrets to find their way in this world...
Prior to 1900, old Navajo wearing blankets often carried symbols or motifs that were attached to the teachings of Spider Woman. Perhaps the symbol or motif that dominated those early blankets was the cross. Many a Navajo grandmother will tell you that crosses represent Spider Woman. The symbol of Spider Woman was given to the earliest weavers to re...
Perhaps two of the earliest design elements to be utilized by Navajo weavers are the diamond and the triangle. These elements were incorporated into old wearing blankets and continue in the modern day Navajo rugs. Again, we cannot be too sure of some of the meanings, but many Navajo grandmothers will tell you that the diamond is a symbol of the Din...
After the year 1900, the “spirit line” became a popular element for many traditional Navajo weavers. This occurred because traders requested weavers to place borders around their weavings. By this time, most weavers were selling their weavings through the trading post system. The traditional weaver became very concerned about trapping their creativ...
A design element that appeared in Navajo weaving from the late 19th century and continued until the late 1930s is the Navajo “whirling logs.” This design is recognized by Anglos as a swastika and caused great controversy in the late 1930s. The Navajo people chose not to include it in future weavings after this period. This symbol comes from the Nav...
Lightning was the most powerful symbol in the world of the Navajo. Not only was lightning powerful in the real world, it also carried great strength in Navajo weavings. In Navajo mythology, lightning was used to make weaving tools but it could also help to define the power of an individual blanket or rug. Small “zigzags” in the four corners of a we...
Petroglyphs, pictographs and pottery shards inspired traditional Navajo weavers. The many canyons where Navajos lived contain ancient Anasazi ruins and historic Navajo pictographs. Beautiful pottery shards could always be found at the feet of most Navajo weavers. Such motifs would appear in the borders or central design element of Navajo weavings.
Colors were also important to Navajo weavers. The variety of colors was limited in the early days to browns, blacks, whites, grays and a little indigo blue. Occasionally, red was used but was obtained with great difficulty. These colors gave enormous energy to the early Navajo Chiefs Blankets. Later years saw the introduction of synthetic and veget...
One cannot separate Navajo weavings from the culture in which they were created. As outside influences began to penetrate the world of the traditional Navajo weaver, patterns, symbols and colors have constantly evolved and changed. Over the three-hundred-year history of weaving, Spider Woman remains a constant reminder of traditional Navjao wisdom ...
Medicine Man Galleryoffers one of the best places to see the great weavings of traditional weavers. The gallery has available the finest Navajo weavings from 1860 to 1960. We encourage you to visit the gallery and experience the gift of Spider Woman.
Find & Download Free Graphic Resources for Navajo Pattern. 100,000+ Vectors, Stock Photos & PSD files. Free for commercial use High Quality Images.
"These four baskets have the traditional Navajo basket design with the red, white, and black colors. The black design symbolizes the darkness (night) and clouds that bring the rain. The white part inside the black design represents the sacred mountains.
Browse 31,945 incredible Navajo vectors, icons, clipart graphics, and backgrounds for royalty-free download from the creative contributors at Vecteezy!
Browse 31,334 incredible Navajo Pattern vectors, icons, clipart graphics, and backgrounds for royalty-free download from the creative contributors at Vecteezy!
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