Generally speaking, Pictorial
weavings are a reflection of the world as the weaver sees it,
usually depicting her immediate environment. But as the world
around the weavers has changed, so have the Pictorials. From
scenes of traditional reservation life, to trains, trading posts,
and trucks, the subject matter of Pictorials could almost be
interpreted as a visual history of life on the reservation over
the past Century.
Sandpainting rugs, first woven by Navajo Medicine Man Hosteen
Klah in the 1920's, are woven representations of traditional
Navajo healing designs. They are most certainly the rarest of
all Navajo rug styles, as many weavers today will not weave them.
First Man:
In the East, at the place
where the Black Cloud and the White Cloud met, First Man, Atse'hastqin,
was formed; and with him was formed the white corn, perfect in
shape, with kernels covering the whole ear. Dohonot i'ni is the
name of this first seed corn, and it is also the name of the
place where the Black Cloud and the White Cloud met.
First Woman:
Now on the western side of
the first world, in a place that later was to become the Land
of Sunset, there appeared the Blue Cloud, and opposite it there
appeared the Yellow Cloud. Where they came together First Woman
was formed, and with her the yellow corn. This ear of corn was
also perfect. With First Woman there came the white shell and
the turquoise and the yucca.
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