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Showing posts from March, 2018

Hahastiin

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Mary Redmustache Kealy's wel loved tools. Thanks to all for the wonderful input regarding the line between admiration and appropriation.  My dear daughter sent me a link to  this article  which was most helpful.  The Navajo language is beautiful and mysterious but it is not my language and I won't name any work using it. Hubs and I went back to visit the  The Gregg Museum of Art and Design  so I could show him a Navajo loom in real life. Mary schooling Preston on her loom. Mary's rug in progress Preston's plan is to build me a traditional Navajo loom.  Mary showed her batten to him so he can make one. The title of this post is the Navajo word for husband.  Dear hubs is my greatest enabler, maybe facilitator is a better word.  He created a dye spot for me in the garage. It is awesome. I did some dyeing this weekend and how great to have a dedicated dye spot. Horsetail, madder and the mystery fungus from Carolina Beach.  I placed this pict...

Cultural Appreciation or Appropriation

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The name of this blog is based upon a traditional Navajo weaving song.  I was drawn to Navajo weaving initally by the beauty and high degree of weaving skill embodied in the work.  Very quickly however I became fascinated by the culture and cosmology of the people and the central role weaving played. I began to build my library of Navajo weaving books and reading everything I could get my hands on.  A trip to the southwest with my daughter in 2016 fed the passion. I was visiting the places I had been reading about.  The landscapes and vistas were stunning. The Hubbell Trading Post was just as I pictured it. Fast forward to this week.  The  The Gregg Museum of Art and Design  had a demonstration of Navajo weaving and basket making. The exhibit was small and informal which gave me the opportunity to watch and speak to the weaver,  Mary Redmustache Kealy. Crystal Rug, a modified Two Grey Hills pattern 1955 - 1970. Handspun yarns Wide Ruins Weaving...