FOLK ART & BASKETS

Click on the photograph for an enlarged view.

     Here is an older Holiday “scene” created in tiny, miniscule beads. The Navajo mom is working at her table – wrapping the presents for the children. I think that Sheila is AMAZING. When you realize the “scale” that she works in – she must be one of our very finest miniaturists working today.

#FOLK11436 - Navajo Mom Wrapping Gifts - 2 1/2" wide by 2 1/2" high
Price: $200

     Based on the creation tales, the sculptures of Marvin Jim reflect a time long ago, when animals and humans walked and worked together to create a new world. These traditional stories speak of conversations among all beings, of behaving in a manner of mutual respect, and of all beings having an equal position in the community. The tales of are universal interaction, compassion, and tolerance; the things necessary to live a balanced existence.
     Marvin and Grace have chosen to recreate these lessons through sculpture. Raised in the traditional way, these talented artists, carve their "upright animals" to show that there was once, and will be again, a personal connection to the animal world. Other Navajo carvers have noticed and commented on Marvin and Grace’s innovative work. It will be interesting to see how their work influences Navajo carving, and what new creations it inspires. Marvin and Grace may ultimately be viewed as breakthrough artists, responsible for a very important new movement in Navajo wood carving.
     This amazing carving is called "Dispersing Waters". It recalls the tale of when the Navajos had found temporary safety on the sacred mountains, but water from the lower world was still gushing up through the hole which had served as a passageway to the earth. Water had been pouring out so much, that the mountains were completely flooded. No humans could save them, but to everybody’s disbelief, the mountain goat was able to make the waters recede. He sent three other goats to his side; one swam north, one swam south, and one swam east. He himself swam to the west. And behold, as each one swam away from the mountain, the water separated, and whole earth was dry. Nevertheless, the water still exists, and if you look off across the fields, you will note where the earth ends and the blue horizon begins. That blue is the water, which once covered the earth and was drawn off through the cleverness of the mountain goat. What an amazing tale – and an even more amazing wood carving!

#FOLK921 - 14" high by 14" deep
Price: $975

      Ruby Grolwer Smith is known for her life size creations of sheep and goat. Her parents were the first to start this art form, and now she and her husband continue their tradition. Ruby began making these animals in 1989, and now does it as a hobby, as she and Ray both have full time jobs. Gathering aspen wood from Dolores, Colorado they look for solid white wood that has no insects. Using both hand tools and power tools, they carve the frames. She then collects the hides, cleaning them from the inside out, scrubbing off all the fat. Ruby uses lots of salt and detergent to cure the hides. She then sews the fur, which takes several days.
They is a marvelous sculptural furry example of folk art !

#FOLK1071 - 20" high by 28" long by 11" wide
Price: $400

      This is a great hand carved and painted Sorrel and White Horse and Colt set by Navajo folk artist Les Herbert.

#FOLK1271 -
Horse - 6 1/8" tall by 2 1/8" wide by 10" long
Colt - 5" tall by 1 3/4" wide by 5 1/2" long
Price: $60 for the set

     This is a new young carver we have just started to showcase. Burlin has an outstanding career in front of him - as his folk art is detailed and colorful. His pieces flow curves, and folds of clothes, and small details in the hands - expressions on the faces.
We like his work so much that we thought we'd show you both the front and the back of this carving. Very expressive!

#FOLK135 -Navajo Softball Player - 8 1/2" high by 2 1/2" deep
Price: $150

     Just in time for Thanksgiving - a great looking turkey! Called "House Arrest" the turkey is wearing his special slippers.

#FOLK10722 - 6 1/4" high by 3 1/4" wide
Price: $85

     Here is a nice rendition of “Owl Man” – white breasted grey owl in his brown moccasins, having a little cigar time.

#FOLK10725 - 6 1/2" high
Price: $80

     Elizabeth is one of Betty Manygoats' daughters, and is a very skilled potter hand building and firing her pieces by traditional methods. Along with traditional Navajo pottery styles that she decorates with appliqué horned toads, ears of corn, and prickly pear cactus, she also creates pictorial scenes of Navajo life for what are called "lifestyle" pots, much like the woven designs on Reservation Pictorial rugs. The figures and design elements she uses are appliquéd and glazed in lifelike colors. Elizabeth Manygoats is from Tonalea, AZ. She signs her work, "EM" with "Dine' " and also as "E. Manygoats" in cursive letters, and sometimes dates her pots with the year they were made.
This scene is called "Tending the Flock" It depicts the woman shepherdess and her five animals. Colorful, delightful, handmade from native clays, this is a great example of Navajo folk art.

#FOLK10723 - The woman is 5 1/2" high and the sheep are about 1 1/2" high
Price: $200 for the entire scene SOLD

     Dennis Pioche is a lovely young Navajo carver. Featured in the Rosenack book, The People Speak, Dennis is one of the most talented young carvers that we showcase. He currently has returned to school to further his education and is SO proud of himself, as he is doing exceptionally well - getting great grades, and thriving in the educational setting. Dennis uses terrific colors and designs. His work is highly collectible.
These Navajo women are wrapped in their blankets- Great colors and designs- very realistic!

#FOLK9525 - 6" high
A) Price: $75
B) Price: $75

     Matt Yellowman’s carvings are physical representations of the creative energy which has driven him most of his adult life. Whether working in gold mines, upholstering custom vans, or carving whimsical figures, Matthew's self confidence has pushed him to do the best possible work in each career endeavor.
     Matthew was born in Montezuma Creek, Utah, to Hugh and Helen Yellowman. As a young boy, he bounced from town to town. He was part of the Mormon Placement Program and lived with a family from Ogden, Utah, for ten years. Today, he follows the traditional teachings of his parents as well as the Native American Church. He is interested in passing along not only the traditional ways to his two children, Camille and Lamont, but his art experience as well.
     His artistic abilities showed themselves at an early age. Matthew finished high school in Ogden, Utah, and had six months vocational training in masonry. He has done oil paintings as well as decorated ceramics. He did not start carving wood until 1996 when he got together with fellow folk artist, Rena Juan. He watched Rena carve for awhile, but was compelled to develop his own style of carving.
     Woodcarving is a real business for him. He starts with pieces of cottonwood he finds in washes in and around the Navajo reservation. He looks at the wood and sees what's "inside". He uses a chainsaw to rough cut the wood, then works out the details using dremels, die grounders, and sanders. Carbide bits are used and different grades of sandpaper for finishing the pieces. He typically works on a number of pieces at once, finishing all of the woodwork before cleaning up all of the shavings in order to start painting. Acrylic folk art paints are used to achieve the variety of tones and shading in their pieces.
     Never sketching his ideas, Matt starts working the wood to create sometimes very complicated movement such as a bucking bull or a man on a trotting horse. He also likes carving the Yei but is careful not to offend in creating this special intermediary of the Navajo people.
     This is such a fun new piece! Check out the relaxing Navajo gentleman, hat resting on his knees, with the mountain goat just ready for "lunch"!

#FOLK922 - 8" high by 5" wide
Price: $450

     Roosters!

#FOLK971 -
A) Purple Rooster - 6" high
Price: $70 SOLD
B) Black/Grey Rooster
Price: $120

     This magnificent basket is called “rainbow Yeis” Rainbows (na'tsi'lid) have numerous functions, all interrelated. A rainbow can serve as an encircling guardian of the sand painting. Christine weaves baskets with imaginative designs. Many of her baskets depict traditional beliefs, stories or legends; some inspired by Navajo sand paintings.
The colors here are traditional, the weave is very tight, and the design is marvelous. It is a large piece- and makes for a stunning display.

#BAS0126 -14" wide
Price: $900

     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