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Tapestry Topics Online
A Quarterly Review of Tapestry Art Today
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page 4
Fall 2005, Vol 31 No 3
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... “Weaving is Life” (continued) |
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After viewing a vast number of beautiful weavings, I was captivated by three names: Mary Henderson Begay, Irene Clark, and Lillian Taylor. Each of these women have handsome pieces in the collection and are still actively weaving Navajo rugs today. In addition, each of them have mothers and daughters who are also weavers.
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Irene Clark, Crystal Wall Hanging, 48” x 72”, 2005, vegetal-dyed commercial wool. white: natural (undyed) wool, golds: Navajo tea (wild tea), greens: sagebrush, rusts: lichens and Navajo tea (wild tea) Edwin L. and Ruth E. Kennedy Southwest Native American Collection, Kennedy Museum of Art, Ohio University. KMA #2005.05.01
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I began to formulate ideas of bringing together the three generations of weavers from these three families. These women are all prominent weavers who have distinctive and superb weaving skills. They are the bearers of the Navajo weaving tradition, and I believe that the woman themselves can best present their stories in their own voices. By bringing these weavers together to present their own stories in their own voices, the KMA creates an opportunity for them to approach the museum world to explore its possibilities and to share their talent with others. . .
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Lillie Taylor, In the Path of the Four Seasons, 31” x 48”, 2004, natural (undyed) handspun wool, vegetal-dyed handspun wool, and aniline-dyed handspun wool. white: natural (undyed), purple: cochineal or mahogany root, magenta: aniline, black: natural (undyed) and aniline-dyed, brown: vegetal, blue: vegetal, lavender: cochineal, green: sage, rust: dock root. Edwin L. and Ruth E. Kennedy Southwest Native American Collection, Kennedy Museum of Art, Ohio University. KMA #2004.08.01
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The video interview process was conducted in the Navajo language so the weavers could best tell their stories. The decision to use our language, Navajo/Dine’ bizaadi, for the interviews was very gratifying. Not only is our language beautiful and descriptive, but only Navajo words can convey an accurate and true picture of why we weave. Personally, when I speak in Navajo I am most comfortable and feel I am best able to manipulate the words to describe my experience with the loom, the yarn, and designs. . .
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Rosie Taylor, Family Teaching, 37” x 25”, 2004, natural (undyed) handspun wool, vegetal-dyed handspun wool, and natural aniline-dyed wool, white: natural (undyed), black: natural (undyed) and aniline-dyed, brown: walnut, tan:rabbit brush and Grey Eyes Herb, red: sumac berries, purple: Protection Way herbal plant root, turquoise: juniper and alfalfa hay, blue: juniper leaves, berries, and ash Edwin L. and Ruth E. Kennedy Southwest Native American Collection, Kennedy Museum of Art, Ohio University. KMA# 2004.18.01
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....(continued next page) |
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o f
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t h e
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N e w s l e t t e r
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A m e r i c a n
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T a p e s t r y
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A l l i a n c e
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