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F.P.4.88-15 - Pictoral Rug |
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Catalog Number: F.P.4.88-15
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| Object Name/Descriptor |
Pictoral Rug |
| Provenience |
North America, USA, Southwest |
| Culture/People/Style |
Navajo (Dine) |
| Artist |
Geanita John |
| Period |
c. 1988 |
| Date Collected |
1988 |
| Date Accessioned |
April, 1988 |
| Material Type(s) |
Cloth
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| Length (cm) |
98 |
| Width (cm) |
131.2 |
| Other Information |
Associated Text from the Native American Hall (1992-2006):
Pictoral Style
Collectors rarely use contemporary Navajo textiles as floor rugs. This whimsical pictorial is designed for a new consumer, who seeks a finely crafted art object for wall display. Both weavers and collectors recognize the value of a well-documented textile. Today the weavers name and residence accompany most sales. Geanita John has signed her creation by weaving her initials into its lower right corner.
Tapestries for Collectors
"Ive been weaving since I was thirteen. I never got into the job market. It seems that all my life Ive been weaving. Its nice to work at home because I dont need a babysitter. When I finish one rug, I always start another one."
- La Verne Barber, Burnham, New Mexico
Navajo textile production declined over much of the mid-1900s. In the 1960s, a nationwide resurgence of interest in Indian arts stimulated the market for Navajo textiles. This new market was increasingly fed by wealthy collectors. Contemporary weavers responded by producing exquisite tapestries. No longer weaving anonymously, many women developed international reputations.
While age, skill, interest, and incentive vary enormously, weaving is still centered around daily routines in Navajo households. Integral to Navajo womens lives for centuries, weaving continues to be a powerful cultural identifier. |
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