Native American Art - Navajo Sandpainting
Native American Art - Navajo Sandpainting
Sandpainting is the art of pouring colored sands, powered pigments from mineral or crystals, and pigments from other natural or synthetic source onto a surface to make a painting. Sandpainting is practiced by Southwestern Native Americans and the most famous of which are the Navajo.
Navajo Sandpaintings are unique and symbolic art from originating with the yeibicheii or the Holy People and are primarily for ceremonial and healing purpose. There are at least 600 to 1000 different sandpaintings that are recognized among the Navajos and many of them contain the images of yeibicheii.
The Navajo believe the universe to be delicately balanced. Only man can upset it and causing disaster or illness. Each illness or disaster has a particular part that is related to a portion of Navajo history. The balance of the universe can be restore by healing the offender with chants, songs, prayer, herbs and sandpaintings.
The sandpainting is begun on a bed of clean white sand and the dirt floor, the earth. Medicine Man (or Hatalii) paints loosely upon the ground of a hogan, where the ceremony takes place, or on a buckskin or cloth tarpaulin, by letting the colored sands flow through his fingers with control and skill. Each design and figure must be produced carefully and in a knowledgeable way, using only the five sacred colors of sands. While creating the painting, the he will chant, asking the yeibicheii to come into the painting and help heal the patient.
When the medicine man finishes painting, he checks its accuracy. The order and symmetry of the sandpainting symbolize the harmony that the patients wish to reestablish in their life. However accurate the sandpainting is will determine how effective it will be as a sacred tool.
The patient will the be asked to sit on the sandpainting, and the medicine man will then proceed with the healing chant. The sandpainting acts like a portal for spirits to come and go, and also attracts them. Sitting on the sandpainting helps the patient absorb some of their power, while in turn the Holy People will absorb the illness and take it away. Afterwards, the sandpainting has done its duty, and is then considered to be toxic, since the illness is absorbed into it. That is the reason they must be disposed of afterwards. Because of the sacred nature of the ceremonies, the sandpaintings are begun, finished, used, and destroyed within a twelve hour period.
Authentic sandpaintings are rarely ever photographed, as to not disrupt the flow of the ceremony. Medicine men will seldom allow outsiders inside a sacred ceremony for many reasons. However, because so many outsiders wish to see the art of sandpainting, medicine men will create them for exhibition purposes only.
There are at least 600 to 1000 different sandpaintings that are recognized among the Navajos; less then half are produced today. However, today many artists create pictures of ceremonial figures for commercial purposes. Sandpainting in itself is not forbidden as long as Holy People are not depicted.
Navajo Art and Jewelry:
Navajo JewelryThe most interesting feature of Navajo jewelry is its uniqueness. You will never find two similar pieces in Navajo jewelry that really got some striking looks.
The Beautiful Crafts Of The Navajo Nation
The Navajo craft other dolls, some of which are produced to display the traditional dress of the old Navajo, much of which is still worn by the elders of today.
Navajo Sandpainting
Sandpainting is practiced by Southwestern Native Americans and the most famous of which are the Navajo.
Navajo Rugs
Original Navajo rugs as well as those of some other Southwest Indian tribes were made of hand-spun cotton thread for a lovely overall look.
The Navajo Nation and Language
The Navajo language is part of the Athabaskan family of languages spoken in the southwestern United States by the Navajo tribe.
