Thirty Years of Dedication, Six Years of Preparation
A native Arizonan raised on a cattle ranch near Benson, Getzwiller began collecting rugs in the late ‘60s and is regarded today as one of the West’s most outstanding experts. An innovator as well as a dealer/collector, he became concerned with fundamental community changes, such as the decline of trading posts and the growing popularity of wage work, which negatively impacted the quality of Navajo weaving.

Seeking to revitalize this fading art form, Getzwiller helped introduce a herd of churro sheep north of Window Rock. The low-lanolin content wool of these hardy animals is favored by weavers because of its easy-to-weave, long, straight strands. To enhance the weavers’ color palette, he also encouraged the use of rare and natural dyes such as the indigo and cochineal varieties. (Note that the red-hued cochineal dye comes from a bug!)

Bringing this exhibit together has involved almost six years of hard work; in some instances, more than six months were required to weave just one blanket. Getzwiller chose the most talented and expert weavers to reinterpret the revered Classic and Late Classic Navajo blanket designs.

Woven with Great Pride
One of the weavers is a descendant of Manuelito (1818-1893), the famous Navajo leader. “I’ve been working at the loom since nine years of age,” says 72-year-old Kathy Marianito. “I’m carrying on the tradition of my ancestors.”

Manuelito’s great-great-granddaughter and the other weavers will continue to celebrate that tradition. “This is the first step in the next phase of Navajo weaving,” stresses Getzwiller. “We’re already considering future breakthroughs.”

Blankets Vis-à-Vis Rugs Navajo Weaving
Comes Full Circle
In the beginning, Navajo weaving focused on blankets made to be worn. Distinguished by bands which connect when wrapped around the wearer, these early weavings are extremely rare today, and valuable.

When the Santa Fe Trail opened in the 1840s, new materials appeared; for instance, red-hued cloth from Europe was eagerly sought after. Navajo weavers unraveled the threads and interwove them with strands of churro wool. Made primarily for trading purposes, these blankets could command as much as $40-$60 in gold or many horses.

Unfortunately, when manufactured blankets were introduced in the late 1800s by companies such as Pendleton, the indigenous market suffered a severe blow. As a result, the new century witnessed the advent of the Navajo rug, and its subsequent popularity in the nation’s homes. (Gustav Stickley, a leader of the American Arts and Crafts Movement, favored these rugs.)

Accustomed to weaving rugs,
The Next Phase weavers had to become familiar with the differences involved in creating blankets. “Navajo blankets are not woven the same as rugs and the differences are immense. The weight of rug wool is much heavier, for example,” says Getzwiller. “To illustrate the differences in designs, I provided the artists with examples of period weavings.”

Getzwiller also provided the weavers with new materials such as silk and alpaca which have never been utilized in Navajo blankets.

An analogy can be drawn between the use of these new materials and the red-hued European cloth that was introduced to Navajo weaving more than 150 years ago. “History is repeating itself,” Getzwiller says.

Our Generous Lenders
We are grateful to the following lenders for their generous participation in this history-making exhibition.

Bar IG Alpacas
Gary Beaudoin
Jerald and Heidi Collings
Conrad and Susan DeJong
Larry and Brandy Dyer
Sean Getzwiller
Gibbs Smith Publishing
John Igini
Jim and Rea Ludke
Mickey and Carol McArthur

Our Generous Sponsors
The Next Phase is made possible through the generous support of Grandview Terrace of Sun City West & KBSZ-AM 1250 in Wickenburg.