Studio Navajo Woman Portrait

Studio portrait by Christain Barthelmes

This photograph is titled “Red Stocking- Navajo Woman” and is a studio portrait by Christain Barthelmess. I really love this photograph fo the way she is adorned.  Though a studio portrait, she is depicting  the true essence of a Navajo female in terms of Navajo philosophy and identity.

She is dressed in post Long Walk clothing via her floral cotton tiered skirt and collared blouse. She has a Pendelton type shawl over her and is adorned in silver and I’m sure turquoise and coral. Her fingers are adorned with various silver ring bands. She also wears a silver squash blossom necklace with turquoise choker and silver buttons on her shirt.

The other reason I wanted to address this photo is because of the title handwritten on the photo itself which reads “Navajo Squaw.” This term might have been a societal norm and accepted in the era it was photographed, but really it is a disrespectful, rude and non-acceptable term to use in the 21^st century. In early days of American society this derogatory term was used by men, but it should never be used ever to address an Indigenous woman.

Female Navajo Elder: Beauty

Aunt Effie, an elderly Navajo woman.

Title and "an old Navajo woman perhaps 100 years (snows) old." hand-written on album page. She wears a blanket shawl. 

Date: between 1880 and 1910

Rights: Western History/Genealogy Dept., Denver Public Library.

Filename 10033080.TIF

21st Adorned Navajo Girl

Indigenous Navajo girl
Photo source Internet

This photograph depicts a 21st century young Navajo girl.
She is adorned with a contemporary velveteen shirt with silver button pendants along the shoulder, colalr and the front of her shirt. She is wearing a traditional Navajo style squash blossom turquoise necklace and matching earrings. This young woman is wearing her hair in the traditional cultural Navajo woman's style hair bundle, which is called a 'ts'ii yaal.'

Hopi Style Turquoise/White Shell Earrings

Hopi style earrings
Photo by Venaya Yazzie 2014

I just adore these earrings!

The earrings I have posted were originated and made directly from a Hopi artisan. I am sharing these earrings today because I would like to share the story of how journeyed across the desert to find me.

One day as I was browsing the hand-crafted items made by Navajo and some Pueblo vendors at the Shiprock Community open market I stopped at a booth with a small elder man sitting behind a small table.

He had a sweet face and he had a plain, white cotton fabric draped over the table with a variety of turquoise earrings upon it. Magical!

What was so wonderful to find was that he did not make the earrings to completely match. I ended up picking the two pictured to make a pair.
When I made the purchase transaction he smiled and called me his 'grand-daughter.' 

Happiness.

Earrings from Northern California

Earrings made by a Hoopa Indian man
Photo by Venaya Yazzie 2014

When I was a student at 20 years old at the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Arts I was befriended by a lovely, strong Indigenous man form the Hoopa Indian Reservation. Ralph M. was from northern California and be became my friend and spiritual adviser.

When I needed a break from the chaos of campus life I would find Ralph and sit and talk with him. Today when I think if my late friend I smile because I honestly believe Creator God sent him into my life to help me find my way and survive via the spiritual. He was a gift to me.

One of my favorite things to do with him was to just sit and bead and make cultural jewelry. Being from northern California he had a great selection of materials including a variety of shells, wooden beads, heishe beads and a great assortment of glass trade beads. The earrings posted are made of glass trade beads, heishe and small clam shell adornments.

This pair of earrings I have posted is a gift from him. I cherish these earrings, for they carry a beautiful story of friendship. The spirit my friend gave me with the earrings is a blessing.

In memory of Ralph Miguelena

Indigenous Brilliance-Venaya as poster artist 2014

Art by Venaya Yazzie 2014

Indigenous Brillance-Amersterdam is a traveling art showcase featuring the contemporary works of American Indian, Indigenous artists from across America.

I have been chosen as the 2014 poster artist which will be featured in the Netherlands in Amersterdam. The painting on the left above is the painting chosen.

Painting Adornment: Turquoise

Detail of art by Venaya Yazzie.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2014

As a painter, it seems i am always thinking about adornment.

The images I paint re-create a mural of my childhood experience. I have been blessed, for I grew up amidst the beauty of adornment via my grandmothers and aunties.

As a young girl I watched as the women in my life wore turquoise and silver on their person. They wore turquoise and not beadwork, for that type of jewelry adornment is more a Plains Indian style of jewelry.

The memories of Dine' women and turquoise is my historical memory, the narrative of brown desert-women's dialogue is my power. In this world of chaos and boundaries, their words assist me in navigating through the life of a Navajo/Hopi woman artist.