Adorned Indigenous Hands.




Hands of a Navajo Woman.  Photo by Michael Mauney

 For me, the hands of the Indigenous Elder brings me back HOME. I was fortunate and richly blessed to be raised by my maternal grandparents and so have my maternal great-grandparents until I was a student in high school.

When I think of my grandmothers, my MATRIARCHS I alway invision their wise hands ADORNED with silver and turquoise beauty. As an adult I am greatful they instilled the importance of Indigenous Navajo ADORNMENT in my life. Today in the 21st century ADORNMENT is part of my personal ritual, and silver and turquoise is my daily mantra.

Diné woman and child. 1930s




Diné woman and female child. Circa 1930s.

 

The strength in this historic photograph lies in the hands of this beautiful Diné woman. When analyzing historical photographs I tend to look closely to the body posture of the individual and this incluedes the hands. In this case her hands are positioned in a strong way that emits, in my opinion the strength of her character and virtue as an Indigenous woman.

Her wrist is ADORNED with a classic Navajo style bracelet of the 1930s. The asthetic design and structure of the bracelet is fashioned in a star or floral structure and most likely inland with turquoise stones. She also wears a ring on her finger inset with a stone.

Both individuals are dressed in post Long Walk cultural clothing styles which consists of a veleveteen long sleeved, collared blouse and a tiered skirt probaly made of satin or some calico cotton fabric. They both are ADORNED with Navajo silverwork in their belt, and silver buttons. The woman is wearing what looks like a bead strung necklace with jacloo added and a silver concho belt.

Blessings in all things.

Original Art by VenayaYazzie2013 All Rights Reserved

The new month of September is momentus for several reasons. It is the month of the ripening of crops for Indigenous peoples of the desert southwest. It is the month of my birthdate with many of my family members including my materal grandmother.

I adore the coming fall season and for me September is the month that begins that change. As an artist this month stands as my muse. I am inspired by September's air outside, I am inspired by the slight turn of warm breezes to cool. And, I am inspired by night star constellations that fall brings.

This too is about ADORNMENT. The change of the night star life is continual, the dark universe perpetuates ADORNMENT in how the may constellations change from season to season. I would consider this male ADORNMENT, as in many Indigenous cultures of the Northern Hemisphere consider the sky as male. So it is the Father Sky that is ADORNED in night and day.

As a visual artist I can only express my inspiration through my paintings. At this time I share my original works above. They are my current visual interpretations of ADORNMENT. They are my medicine for my well-being and I hope they travel with to the community with good thougts and blessings of a beautiful life.

Painting, creating is my healing. It is a must.

Blessings in all things.