Isabella Flores
Navajo sand paintings, also called dry paintings, are an integral part of Navajo culture and curing ceremonies. The paintings are created by a medicine man or shaman, who pours coloured sands and powdered pigments from minerals, crystals, and other natural sources onto the ground of a hogan (the structure where the ceremony takes place), a cloth tarpaulin, or a wooden board. The paintings depict sacred symbols and figures from Navajo mythology and are believed to be spiritual, living beings that enable healing by allowing the patient to absorb spiritual power. After the ceremony, the sand painting is considered toxic as it has absorbed the patient's illness and is therefore quickly destroyed. While traditionally, these paintings were not meant to be permanent, some modern Navajo artisans have started creating permanent versions of the paintings by turning them into weavings or prints that can be sold for a profit. The value of a Navajo sand painting thus depends on whether it is a temporary ceremonial painting or a permanent artwork, with the latter having commercial value.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Healing and curing ceremonies |
| Subject matter | Sacred mountains, deities, animals, elements like water and air, legendary visions, dances, and chants |
| Materials | Sandstone, minerals, coloured sand, crushed gypsum, yellow ochre, red sandstone, charcoal, corn meal, flower pollen, powdered roots and bark |
| Permanence | Temporary and destroyed after use |
| Commercial value | Sold for profit |
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What You'll Learn
Navajo sand paintings are a sacred, spiritual practice
Navajo sand paintings, also called "dry paintings", are a sacred, spiritual practice with roots in traditional Navajo medicine and religious ceremony. The Navajo people do not view these paintings as static objects but as spiritual, living beings to be treated with great respect. The paintings are created during curing ceremonies to invoke the power of the deities and restore balance and harmony.
The sand paintings are created by a shaman or medicine man of the tribe, who "paints" by letting coloured sand fall carefully through his fingers onto the ground, creating holy symbols and figures. The shaman chants while creating the painting, inviting the Holy People or Yeibicheii to inhabit it and help heal the patient. The patient then sits on the painting, absorbing its spiritual power, while the shaman continues to chant and perform rituals. The Holy People are believed to absorb the patient's illness and take it away.
The colours for the paintings are usually obtained from naturally coloured sand, crushed gypsum, yellow ochre, red sandstone, charcoal, and a mixture of charcoal and gypsum for blue. Other colouring agents include corn meal, flower pollen, or powdered roots and bark. The paintings may depict traditional healing designs or contemporary themes such as still life and landscapes.
After the ceremony, the sand painting is considered toxic as it has absorbed the patient's illness. It is quickly destroyed, usually within 12 hours, and the remains are returned to the earth. The Navajo believe that the replication or publicization of these sacred artworks is a cursed activity. However, some modern Navajo artisans now create permanent versions of the designs by turning them into weavings or prints that can be sold, often with respectful changes made to the original design.
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The paintings are used in curing ceremonies
Navajo sand paintings, also called dry paintings, are used in curing ceremonies. The paintings are created by a medicine man or shaman, who pours coloured sand through his fingers to create intricate patterns and symbols. The paintings are believed to be sacred and are typically destroyed soon after they are created, as they are thought to be temporary. The Navajo believe that the paintings are "places where the gods come and go", and they are used to request divine help for healing and good harvests.
The paintings are created during a ceremony and are meant to be seen only by the shaman and the person being healed. The medicine man selects the paintings that will best heal the patient from a distinct set of paintings that belong to a specific chant. The patient sits on the painting while the shaman performs a ritual, such as reciting healing chants, to enhance the absorption of its healing power. The belief is that the sand painting provides a portal for healing spirits to come through and heal the patient. After the healing, the spirits return to the painting, and the illness is believed to be transferred to or contained within the painting itself.
The symbols and patterns in the paintings represent elements from tribal myths, legends, and cosmologies. Common imagery includes thunderbirds, sacred mountains, deities, animals, and elements like water and air. The paintings may also depict dances or chants performed in rituals or illustrate legendary visions. The creation and ritual use of the paintings are believed to restore the correct relations between the patient and the forces upon which their spiritual and physical health depend.
While the paintings were traditionally destroyed, some modern Navajo artisans now make permanent replicas of the designs by turning them into weavings or prints that can be sold. However, changes are usually made to the original design to avoid angering the gods, as it is believed that replicating the sacred artworks is a cursed activity.
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They are created by a shaman or medicine man
Navajo sand paintings are a vital part of Navajo curing ceremonies. They are created by a shaman or medicine man, who uses coloured sand to form intricate patterns and figures that are believed to be sacred. The shaman or medicine man must learn all the intricate details of the sand painting, including the holy images, their placement, exact colours, and accompanying guardians, in addition to the proper songs, prayer offerings, rituals, and sequence of events. This knowledge is passed down orally through apprenticeship, and so many of the old ceremonies have been lost forever.
The shaman or medicine man will create the sand painting during the ceremony, often painting loosely on the ground where the ceremony takes place, or on a piece of buckskin or cloth tarpaulin. The sand is not painted on but is carefully let fall through the shaman's fingers, creating intricate patterns and figures. The colours for the paintings are usually obtained from naturally coloured sand, crushed gypsum for white, yellow ochre, red sandstone, charcoal, and a mixture of charcoal and gypsum for blue. Other colouring agents include corn meal, flower pollen, or powdered roots and bark.
The shaman or medicine man will chant while creating the painting, summoning the Holy People to temporarily inhabit the sand painting and help heal the patient. The patient then sits on the painting, absorbing its spiritual power, while the shaman or medicine man continues to chant and perform rituals to enhance the absorption of its healing power. The sand painting is believed to be a dynamic, living, sacred entity that enables the patient to transform their mental and physical state.
After the ceremony, the sand painting is considered toxic, as it has absorbed the patient's illness, and so it is quickly destroyed. The remains of the painting are returned to the earth.
While traditionally, these sand paintings were temporary and quickly destroyed, some modern Navajo artisans now choose to create permanent versions of these sacred images by turning them into weavings or prints that can be sold for a profit. The original sand painting is still destroyed, and respectful changes are made to the design to avoid angering the gods. The first Navajo sand painting successfully made permanent on a board for sale was created in the 1950s by a medicine man named Fred Stevens, who is credited with developing the primary method of "permatizing" for commercial sand paintings.
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The paintings are temporary and quickly destroyed
The Navajo people do not view sand paintings as static objects, but as spiritual, living beings to be treated with great respect. The paintings are created for curing ceremonies, to heal the mental and physical state of an ailing individual. The paintings are believed to be sacred and temporal, and are therefore quickly destroyed after use. This is because the paintings are thought to absorb the ailment of the person sitting on them, and are considered toxic afterward.
The sand paintings are created by a shaman or medicine man, who pours coloured sand through his fingers to create holy symbols and figures. The shaman chants healing prayers during the process, and after the painting is complete, the ailing person is asked to sit on it while the shaman continues to chant. The paintings are usually created overnight and are destroyed before dawn. They are made from sandstone and minerals that are ground to a fine consistency and applied to a wooden backing with glue.
The Navajo people believe that the sand paintings are portals to attract the spirits and allow them to come and go. This is reflected in the Navajo word for sand painting, 'iika'a'h', which means "place where the gods come and go". The paintings are believed to be dynamic, living entities that enable the transformation of the patient's mental and physical state by focusing on the powerful mythic symbols.
While the sand paintings are traditionally temporary, some modern Navajo artisans have started to create permanent versions of the paintings by turning them into weavings or prints that can be sold for profit. However, the original sand painting is still destroyed, and respectful changes are made to the design to avoid replicating the sacred artwork exactly.
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The sand paintings can be made permanent and sold
Navajo sand paintings are a sacred part of Navajo religious ceremonies and are used for healing purposes. The paintings are made by a shaman or medicine man, who pours coloured sand through his fingers to create holy symbols and figures. The ailing individual then sits on the painting while the shaman recites healing chants, and the painting is believed to absorb the ailment and provide relief.
Traditionally, these paintings are quickly destroyed after use as they are believed to be sacred and temporary. However, some modern Navajo artisans have started to make permanent versions of these paintings by turning them into weavings or prints that can be sold for a profit. This practice was first started by a medicine man named Hosteen Klah, who was the first to reproduce the sacred sand painting images for sale in the form of woven rugs. He is also credited with being the first to craft sand painting images as art, using cloth or hide as memory aids and teaching tools.
The idea of making permanent sand paintings for sale was further developed in the 1950s by a Navajo medicine man named Fred Stevens, who collaborated with an Arizona trader named Rex Bollin and artist George DeVille. Together, they created a process to adhere the sand to a board, making the first successful permanent Navajo sand painting for sale. This method of "permatizing" commercial sand paintings is still used today and has allowed Navajo artists to preserve the beauty and complexity of their traditional designs while also generating income.
While some modern Navajo artisans have embraced this practice of creating permanent sand paintings for sale, it is important to note that there are differing beliefs within the community. Some Navajo people believe that replicating or publicizing these sacred artworks is a cursed activity and may bring anger to the gods. To respect this belief, artisans who create permanent sand paintings often make intentional errors or change colours so that the replicas are not exact copies of the original designs used in ceremonies.
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Frequently asked questions
Navajo sand painting, also called dry painting, is a sacred art form that is an integral part of Navajo healing ceremonies. The paintings are created by medicine men, who use coloured sand to depict scenes from Navajo religious traditions.
The Navajo people believe that sand paintings are spiritual, living beings that enable a transformation in the mental and physical state of an ailing individual. The paintings are believed to attract the Holy People, who temporarily inhabit the painting and use their powers to heal the patient.
The medicine man, or Shaman, creates the sand painting by letting coloured sand fall carefully through his fingers onto the ground or a cloth tarpaulin. The colours are usually obtained from naturally coloured sand, crushed gypsum, yellow ochre, red sandstone, charcoal, and other natural sources.
The value of a Navajo sand painting can vary depending on factors such as the complexity of the design, the fineness of the materials used, and the artist's skill and reputation. Authentic Navajo sand paintings created by Native American artists are considered valuable artworks. The first Navajo sand paintings made permanent on boards for commercial sale emerged between 1945 and 1955, with the earliest credited instance created by Fred Stevens, a Navajo medicine man.
