Lawrence Jacquez
Skinwalker
"Yenadlooshi"
(very rare)
18 1/4"
H with 1 1/4" base
Lawrence Jacquez is a Navajo
carver from the Nageezi area of the Navajo reservation and was
born in 1965. Lawrence is known for his unusual sculptural renderings
of Navajo sandpaintings.
Although he is also a painter,
his talent as a sculptor has grown to depicting both the Navajo
Yeibichai or holy people, as well as the Navajo mythical being
called "yendalooshi" or skinwalker.
Lawrence struggled with tragedy
when his entire immediate family was killed in an automobile
accident near his home on the reservation. To quote Lawrence:
"I started painting after
an accident left me unable to continue working in building construction.
I have continued to try to express myself in different ways which
has taken me on a tour of a number of different mediums. I went
from painting canvas to large murals, to 3-dimensional sandpaintings
to wood sculpting. I try to tell a story with each carving. One
of my latest works was a carving of an eagle. It was meant to
send a prayer to my children. I carve to honor my daughter and
son who are with me in spirit. I pray that they can see and understand
my visions."
Lawrence's awards include
both First Place and Best Of Division at the Santa Fe Indian
Market, as well as First Place blue ribbons at the Gallup Intertribal
show.
In spite of common trends
to frown upon Navajo carvings, Lawrence continues to showcase
his skills in this medium by focusing wholy upon figures which
are related to his Navajo cultural heritage - and his skill is
superb.
His carvings always feature
incredible detail. Every fiber has been meticulously accounted
for. The hands and face have every line and wrinkle.
Moreover, this type of artwork
is considered by many Navajo as a cultural taboo. Therefore,
a piece such as this one is very rare.
The Yenadlooshi, or Skinwalker,
is a product of the so-called Navajo black magic. His origins
and purposes are shrouded in mystery, but his reputation precedes
him in a powerful way among modern Navajos. A quick conversation
with most will reveal a certain reluctance to even talk about
the Yenadlooshi.
