Male basket weavers are not the norm in traditional
Navajo culture, but for Jamison Black, son of Mary Holiday Black- the
most famous Navajo contemporary basket weaver- weaving is as natural as
breathing. Jamison also has a profound belief in the importance of preserving
Navajo beliefs and customs, and he realizes the best way for him to do
so is by expressing them through weaving. Jamison has developed his inherent
talent along with his knowledge of Navajo history. His unique combination
of skill and philosophy have produced remarkable results.
The sixth of eleven children, Jamison
Black was born in Monument Valley in the mid-60's. Jamison was eighteen
years of age when he sat down and made his first willow basket. Like any
young man, he had need of money and he could see how much his sisters
and mother made when they sold their baskets. He decided to follow in
their footsteps.
Jamison soon found that weaving wasn't
as easy as it looked, but still, he had a knack for it. Besides he was
living with the best teacher he could ask for- his mother. He had some
training in silver smithing at Monument Valley High School, but soon decided
to stay with basket weaving.
Living in a remote, sparsely populated
desert area of southeastern Utah, Jamison's home has no electricity, no
modern conveniences to distract him from his chosen occupation. He is
in tune with his surroundings and nature, much the same as his ancestors.
Monster Slayer Basket
#BAS1101 -22" wide
Price: $1100
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