Native American Originality
There''s a quiet, unique world in Arizona where artisans go about the tedious work of making fine treasured items as their ancestors have done for generations. In this issue, we feature Tohono O''odham horsehair weavers, Pima basket makers and Navajo rug weavers.
BY: DEBRA UTACIA KROL
An O'odham Family's Heritage Thrives in Delicate Miniature Art
Geneva Ramon's strong fingers, sporting nicks in various stages of healing, deftly tie two knots in a small coil of black horsehair. Threading a single hair on a medium sewing needle, she pushes the needle between the diminutive rows of the tiny tray she is weaving. Holding the 1-inch spiral in one hand, Ramon pulls the needle through and around, winding the doubled hair around the outside coil of whitish hair that feels more like waxed nylon fishing line than what used to hang from the tail end of a horse. "I go through a lot of needles," she says with a shy smile.
HORSEHAIR WEAVINGS
text by DEBRA UTACIA KROL photographs by JIM MARSHALL
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