Sand paintings

Hosteen Klah was a famed Navajo Medicine Man during the early nineteen hundreds. He died in 1938. He was almost fanatical in his belief in the ancient gods and the only Medicine Man knowing the forgotten Hail Chant or Rain Chant. Klah was the first man to dare the wrath of the gods to weave a ceremonial rug and was sincere in his belief that his medicine would protect him. He later initiated his two nieces into the Yeibitchai ceremony and authorized them to weave ceremonial designs. Over each woman he sang the full nine day chant, invoking the protection of the gods. Contemporary sand painting tapestries are not woven for ceremonial intent or purpose. Most weavers are producing superior tapestries, and in order to avoid any show of sacrilege, they purposely incorporate errors in the design.

The Heard Museum, Phoenix, is especially noted for its important permanent collections related to the Indian cultures of the Americas. The renowned center also hosts many Indian Arts and Crafts fairs and exhibits which attract leading artists, artisans and discerning patrons. This year's All Indian Arts & Crafts Show, November 30 through December 8, 1974, promises to be the greatest ever held at the institution.

WE-65 This sand painting rug is of tapestry quality. It was woven by Mary Long and won First Prize in the 1965 Arizona State Fair. From a private collection.

Harmsen's Western American Collection is based at Denver, Colorado. Keystone of the collection is the more than 850 examples of paintings documenting the development of the West represented by the most noted old masters and distinguished contemporaries.

WE-66 Created by an unknown weaver in the Kayenta area, the sand painting rug below is typical of those woven around 1925. Harmsen's Western Americana.