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| Navajo sand painting, called Father Sky Mother Earth |
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| Forever Home of the Bears. |
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Navajo sand paintings
Navajo sand paintings are made for ceremonies usually made by medicine man and his helpers. These sand painting are then destroyed after the ceremony is compeleted. Navajo sandpainting ceremonies are held to cure illness and ensure general well-being.
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many of these are now sold as commercial products (search Ebay or galleries)...how do you feel about turning sacred images into products for purchase?
ReplyDeleteThese are quite interesting because, like you said, they were destroyed after they were used. Obviously there wouldn't be any examples from early periods but maybe drawings exist which might depict what traditional sand paintings looked like.
ReplyDeletethere is also a line of Navajo weavings that use these designs, usually with permission of religious leaders. For more info see:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.twinrocks.com/legends/164-sandpainting-textiles.html
Very sad that they were destroyed after use, I know that was part of their practice but it's still sad since we cant study them now since most of them are gone. one of the many frustrations Archaeologists run into.
ReplyDeleteThey are really incredible pieces of work. That blows my mind that they would destroy them, but that's part of the process I guess.
ReplyDelete