Native American Art Article: Modernist Weavings

Modernist Weavings

The Native American Art Magazine published a great article about our new exhibition, Navajo Textiles as Modern Art - Then and Now

You can read the full article and see photos and accompanying video here.  Please do so, and enjoy!  It's worth the read!

The Thrill of Twill

Twill weaving is one of the most difficult styles to master.  Those who do create works of art. It's a dying art form. 

While fewer and fewer artists are able to execute the twill weave, it’s important to remember that even the ones made long ago are still standing the test of time because of their strength and unique weaving technique. Unlike other patterns and weaving styles, the twill uses a four harness loom by replacing the standard pull shed and stick shed with a stick shed and three pull sheds, a weaving technique adapted from the Pueblos. 

Take a look at some of the thrilling Twill beauties we have available:

Do you like surprises of the good kind?  If so, that's exactly what this weaving is.  It sure doesn't look like much in the overall photo, does it?  BUT when you look at the detailed photos, you see the great surprise!  

Look at the Diamond twill pattern of weaving.  This style of weaving was passed to the Navajo via the manta designs of the Pueblo Indians.  The work in this piece is just stunning and could only have been accomplished by the finest of artisans. And the quality is appreciated even more when you consider it was woven in the 1880s on an outdoors loom.

To appreciate this weaving in "living color" please watch our Facebook video describing it: http://bit.ly/nrg-pc66v

Woven entirely using the twill technique, this is an extremely rare masterpiece!

The skilled artisan used hand-carded, hand-spun, hand-dyed Merino wool, and used vegetal dye to obtain some of the coloring.

It's hard to believe that this woven art was brought to life on loom outside where the artist sat daily and played it's music to paint this incredible joyfully colored piece.  It just sings to your soul, doesn't it?  

This piece was created to be used as a double saddle blanket. The loom artist used a beautiful diamond twill design which gives beautiful depth and movement to the piece. Do you see the lighter bands?  Those were made by taking red American flannel bolt of material and unraveling it.  Then the long pieces of thread would be carded together to form thicker pieces of yarn.  A feat of creative artistry in itself. 

We have an excellent video on facebook in which Steve is describing this piece.  You can watch it here:  http://bit.ly/nrg-ght2252v

Do you have any Twill weavings?  What is your favorite thing about them?   

Elsie Bia - This Woman - These Hands

Blessed by Spiderwoman to Create Art

Elsie Bia is an incredibly gifted Master Weaver.  When we open a new exhibit at the ranch she will pack up her loom from the reservation, reassemble it here, and give the most fascinating weaving demonstrations for all who come to the Open House on March 11th for the Navajo Textiles as Modern Art exhibit.

It was mesmerizing we watched her complete this incredible piece. It's one of the most difficult parts of weaving and we were honored that she chose to share it with our guests. Each piece of art that she weaves is of the highest quality. Elsie LOVES to weave, and it's clearly evident.  Learn more about this weaver gifted by Spiderwoman and shop her weavings.  Click here. 

There are four short videos of Elsie with this piece that you can watch on our Facebook page. We also have videos where Steve talks about individual weavings from this exhibit.  

Daylight Saving Time

Fun trivia fact:  Arizona, Hawaii, and our overseas territories do NOT observe Daylight Saving Time.  

However, the Navajo DO observe Daylight Saving Time on tribal lands!

Come! Be our Guest ...

We had a full gallery as folks came for the Navajo Textiles as Modern Art exhibit opening and more than 60 weavings spanning a period of over 130 years were on display.

If you couldn't make it, contact us for a personal tour! The exhibit runs until June 30th. 
Phone:  520-455-5020 
Email: steve@navajorug.com

Navajo Textiles as Modern Art Opens Mar 11

From weaving a blanket or rug for practical and personal need to creating weavings for the trade market and as a source of income, the perception of Modern Art Design in Navajo textiles has evolved over time.  

Navajo Textiles Modern Art is an exhibition of over 60 Navajo Textiles spanning 137 years from the 1880s to the present. This exhibit will be on view at Nizhoni Ranch Gallery from March 11 - June 30th.

These special textiles, rugs, and weavings will demonstrate how Modern Art in the eye of the weaver has changed over the years. 

"Our inspiration for this show is really to share important Navajo Art with the public. Today Modern Art is all over the map - we want to share these designs with those who may not have ever been exposed to them before." 

As always, our gallery is open for you. Contact us to schedule an appointment. We look forward to sharing this delightful exhibit with you.

Navajo Textiles as Modern Art

This exhibit opens March 11 and will run through June 30, 2017 and is hosted at Nizhoni Ranch Gallery.

Reservations are required to attend the opening in person.
Call 520-455-5020 or email steve@navajorug.com for reservations.

• 11am - 4pm 
We're excited to have Master Weaver Elsie Bia with us once again to demonstrate the art of Navajo weaving.

Elsie's weavings have won 3 Best of Category Awards; 6- 1st Place Ribbons; 2 – Artist Awards and many smaller awards. 

Learn more about this renowned and gifted weaver - click here. 

• 1:00 pm 
Steve will host a walk through the exhibit, discussing many of the pieces in detail.

• 1:00 pm
The exhibit walk will be streamed LIVE on Facebook for those unable to attend in person.

LIVE Dazzled Eye Walk & Talk

“Gaudy”     “Barbaric”     “An aesthetic debauch”

These were the opinions of many Western critics who, during the Victorian age, found Navajo Eyedazzler weavings jarring and ill-fitted to their décor. Not until the Op Art movement during the 1960's did collectors and artists alike go wild for these weavings that produced similar tricks on the eye as Opt Art did but were created far earlier. 

Featuring selections from world-renowned collectors Steve and Gail Getzwiller, The Dazzled Eye contrasts these works of woven art with American Op Art by exploring the popularity and history of Navajo Eyedazzlers and optical weavings. This exhibition demonstrates how these works by Navajo weavers epitomize Navajo aesthetics and a mindfulness of movement.

Learn about the dynamic history of the Dazzled Eye woven works of art from Steve Getzwiller, as he takes the time to personally introduce you to the exquisite textiles on display.  A walk through a special place and time, with a man who seems to have been there and back. 

If you would like a preview of the images from the exhibit - click here.  You know you won't want to miss this great event and learn all about these spectacular textiles!  Mark your calendar today:  Saturday February 25th 1pm MST. 

For more details:  http://www.tucsondart.org/the-dazzled-eye.html

This is a SPECIAL FREE event in the museum!
Museum information is below for your convenience. 

TUCSON DESERT ART MUSEUM

If you missed this great event, you can relive it in all it's glory by watching the video on our Facebook page

San Francisco here we come!

The annual San Francisco Tribal & Textile Art show is the leading Tribal art fair showcasing the arts of tribal cultures and indigenous peoples of the Americas, Asia, Oceania, Polynesia, the Middle East and Africa. 

The show presents over 80 national and international galleries, displaying museum-quality objects and artifacts in visually striking settings perfect for browsing by tribal art collectors, first-time guests and enthusiasts. This show presents the rare opportunity to find that unique object that you can bring home and enjoy.

Nizhoni Ranch Gallery is pleased to be one of the only galleries to represent weavings by the gifted Navajo loom artists.  If you're in the SF area, please be sure to stop by our exhibit and say Hi!  We will have some exceptional weavings for you, like this amazing 3rd Phase Chief Blanket done in a Teec Nos Pos/ Red Mesa style.  

You can purchase tickets for the event by clicking here.  The show will run Feb 10-12: Friday - Sunday 11am - 7pm (5pm on Sun)

Fort Mason Center
Festival Pavilion 
2 Marina Blvd 
San Francisco

Dazzled Eye Exhibit Draws Crowd

A sneak peak at the Dazzled Eye Exhibit at the Tucson Desert Art Museum - A big hit!! Catalogs are $10. Call 520-455-5020 or email Steve@navajorug.com to order your copy today.

Opening Night! Everyone enjoyed the Exhibit !!

Curator Alyssa Travis and the Collector Steve Getzwiller

Center Room with Blankets Galore !

Steve and Robin joking around - and a little more serious below...

Jeff & Anne Gartner with Gail & Steve Getzwiller

Steve & Gail Getzwiller with Brandy & Larry Dyer

Everyone's Favorite Wall !

Video: Kathy Marianito Navajo Weaver

Kathy Marianito shares the meaning and thought that went into her latest Navajo blanket. Enjoy. Steve and Kathy Marianito with her Chief Blanket Churro 1506

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Salt River Canyon

The Salt River Canyon Gail snapped this shot of the Salt River Canyon as she and Steve drove home from the Navajo Nation. An unusual sight, as they have not seen clouds inside the canyon before. The light was changing fast!

A few more snapshots from the Navajo Reservation Trip below. The last trip for 2016! As you can see in the last photo - It was Windy!!

Cecelia Nez posing for a portrait. One of the best living Teec Nos Pos Weavers!! And in general a beautiful person we are privileged to know.

Malinda Nez posing for a portrait. Sheep Herder and Expert Teec Nos Pos Weaver!! We were joking around and snapped this shot of her in front of her loom.

Steve and Kathy Marianito wrestle with a 3rd Phase Chief Blanket, the wind is quite blustery!

Pictorials at the Gallery

At Nizhoni Ranch Gallery. We currently have the Painting with Wool show hanging. It has opened to rave reviews. Visitors are amazed at the pictorials we are currently highlighting. Imagine painting a scene about Navajo life on the reservation, but using fiber instead of oils or watercolors to create the picture. That’s what pictorials in Navajo weaving are, and while times and markets are always changing these weavings continue to see a steady growth in popularity. That’s just one of the many reasons Nizhoni Ranch Gallery in Sonoita, Arizona is featuring a new show this fall focusing on this particular style.

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Currently At The Gallery

Saturday's Exhibit Opening Painting With Wool was a great success! Thank You All for Coming!!! We have many items in the show that are for sale but have not been posted on the website yet but are coming soon. Just give us a call 520-455-5020 or email steve@navajorug.com for a tour. Featured below is a Yei be Chei Pictorial woven by Marie Shirley, circa 1985, with beautiful vegetal dyes. Also on the hearth is 3 large Zia Pueblo Pots by Ruby Panana all available for sale!

Antique Tree of Life opposite Cara Gorman's 4 in 1 pictorial

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Talk at Wickenburg Museum Today November 8th

Steve will be giving a talk today, 12 -5pm, Tuesday November 8th 2016, at the Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Wickenburg Arizona. Part of the "RIDE THROUGH HISTORY" SADDLES THAT SHAPED THE WEST EXHIBIT

Steve & Gail loaned Navajo Saddle Blankets to the exhibit to help show off the wonderful Saddles on display all hand crafted by Carson Thomas of Wickenburg Arizona.

Above is a sneak preview of just a few of the many saddles and saddle blankets in the exhibit. The saddles are all replicas of the original saddles that Shaped American History - made to scale! Incredible!! And the blankets are all original historic Navajo Saddle Blankets.

Steve talking with some Museum Patrons at the Exhibit Opening. The Saddles, Navajo Saddle Blankets, and Fine Art displayed together give you a real feel for how the west was shaped!