Navajo Sand Paintings — A complete buyer’s guide
The Navajos, since time immemorial, have fascinated us with their culture, beliefs, and beautiful handmade crafts, including rugs and potteries. But there is one hidden art form of the Navajos that is slowly attracting worldwide attention lately. And it is the Navajo sand painting, which is being mentioned in a lot of art circles. In this regard, here is a complete buyer’s guide to Navajo sand paintings so we can understand them properly before making a purchase.
What are Navajo sandpaintings?
Navajo sandpaintings are dry paintings made by the Navajo healers to be used in healing ceremonies. Usually, they are not for sale. Traditionally a set of paintings are made for the healing ritual. Depending on the type of illness, a particular painting is selected from the lot. A long process of incantation is initiated during which the patient sits on the painting while the healer chants an incantation for the healing to take place in full effect. After the ritual is over, they are taken to a secret place and destroyed.
Nowadays, they are available for commercial purposes. For this purpose, sand is adhered to a board and colored using natural ingredients like pollen, plants, flowers, and other natural things.
Why are they so much in demand?
There are two reasons for their popularity.
1) They are rarely available for sale.
Navajo sandpaintings were not meant for commercialization in the first place. Owing to the destruction of the art by the healers after the end of the ceremony, sand painting began to be a dying art. Though a lot of efforts are being made to revive it, there are very few Navajos who are willing to make the sand art for the purpose of trade.
2) The art is unique
There is a particular form of art that only the Navajos know, which has been passed down as their family secret for generations. The form, color, and design of the sand art need to be precisely the same, or it would be considered useless for the ritual. And the materials used for coloring have to be completely natural. They are sometimes obtained from crushed rocks and sometimes from plants and flowers.
It is the exclusiveness and uniqueness of the art and the sentiments of the artists making them that make it so much in demand.
What are the things to know before buying a Navajo sandpainting?
1) Buy it from an authentic source.
Buy only from the Navajo people who know the art of making authentic sandpainting. The commercial painting will indeed be a little different from the original design so as not to offend their culture, but the difference will be so minimal that only the original Artist can know the detail that was altered.
It is also a fact that both men and women make paintings. But traditionally, Navajo sandpaintings were made only by men because women were not allowed for the same. Because of this uniqueness of the art, Navajo sandpainting needs to be bought from an authentic source- a place where the customer can deal directly with the Navajos. That way, it will be a symbiotic relationship between the customer who can get authentic art and the Navajo artists who can profit directly from the art.
2) Beware of fakes
Because of the growing demand for art but the unwillingness of the craftsmen to sell their sand art or very few craftsmen willing to sell the art, a lot of fakes are being distributed in the market as original. An original Navajo sandpainting will contain scenes from only the Navajo cultures. Any scene outside of Navajo culture is definitely a symbol of fakeness as the artists are bound by age-old traditions to paint only their religious symbols and traditional scenes.
There is one more fact that only original things are used for coloring the art. Evidence of synthetic color in the painting is proof that it is fake. The beauty of the art lies in its use of natural colors.
3) Cost
The cost of Navajo sandpainting will vary depending on the type of art and the natural materials of the colors used. A large variety of materials ranging from pollen, charcoal to turquoise and ochre are used for their natural colors by the artists. The value and rarity of the material definitely have an effect on the price of the painting.
The intricacy and size of the painting also decide its price. Some small paintings take two days, while some several square feet long paintings take 4–5 days to be completed.
There are other factors like the uniqueness of the painting along with the polishing method of the art. But overall, these two factors are the most important ones in deciding the final price of the painting.
4) The material used in the art
Though commercially sold in recent times, Sandpaintings have been made by Navajo healers for thousands of years for their healing purposes. Owing to their ancient origins, the materials used for coloring the art are completely natural or sourced from natural resources. Materials such as barks of trees to their crushed and dried roots, the mud of river beds, crushed ochre, ground turquoise, the pollen of specific flowers to charcoal are used for the variety of colors used in the painting.
The exclusiveness of these natural paints makes the art pretty interesting and interesting in an overall manner.
5) The design do you want.
There are hundreds of designs available for Navajo art. The basic theme of the designs is related to their sacred ceremonies performed to honor their Gods and help in the healing process.
Designs of the underworld, of the SunGod, Trees, and roots of plants, sacred plants of the tribe, a variety of animals like frogs, birds, deer, and many other designs associated with the daily lives and cultural beliefs of the Navajo Indians are used.
Are there any taboos associated with the Navajo sandpaintings?
Though a lot of superstitions are gradually losing their importance and new beliefs are being formed, there are still some taboos associated with the Navajo sandpaintings.
1) Not for pregnant women
Pregnant women are usually advised not to be present when the painting is in progress. Originally these paintings were done as a part of a healing ritual. It is believed that the process could harm the unborn child. Because of this, pregnant women are not advised to be in the vicinity when the painting is in progress.
2) Women usually not included in the painting process
The healer who drew the arts was typically a man. Even now, it’s the male who dominates the art industry when it comes to Navajo Sandpaintings. Though some taboos are being broken and women are coming forward to participate in the painting process, it’s actually the men who draw the more intricate designs.
3) The exact design is not drawn when painted commercially
The real sand paintings are considered sacred. So they are never replicated exactly for commercial purposes. Some deliberate errors like reversing the colors and leaving some details out are made so as to not offend the Navajo Gods.
How to take care of Navajo sandpainting?
1) Do not use a Glass case to frame it
By framing the painting under a glass case, we sometimes lock moisture under the glass, which can then destroy the painting or distort the glass, causing issues with viewing. Never use a glass case to frame a Navajo sandpainting. Hang it without any casing and let it breathe fresh air all day long. It will help in a better view along with increasing the life of the painting.
2) Keep them in places away from direct sunlight
Direct sunlight can be harsh on the painting. Under prolonged sunlight, the natural colors will lose their shine and look dull and discolored. The sand may also become hard and crack because of the temperature. Even keeping the painting in a humid place can cause changes in its structure because of the moisture. Always keep a Navajo sand painting in a cool and dry place away from direct sunlight to retain its shape and shine.
3) Store the larger pieces in a crate
Do Not keep the painting out in the open. You will risk causing accidental damage to the art because of overcrowding. Wrap the smaller pieces carefully with wrapping paper. Store the larger pieces of the painting carefully in a crate and sprinkle naphthalene balls around them to prevent destruction by moths and insects.
4) Do Not lean anything near the painting
The sand paintings are pretty delicate pieces of art with sand and mud primarily glued onto a board for the base of the art. Leaning anything near the painting will cause a high risk of the painting getting scratched by it. Such type of damages is usually irreversible. To prevent them, do not lean anything near the painting.
5) Get them cleaned by professional cleaners
We may not always use the right cleaning materials required for the painting. Sometimes the wiping cloth may prove to be a bit harsh on the art. Sometimes the dusting brush may prove a bit too hard and damage the art. Always get your Navajo sandpainting cleaned by professional cleaners to ensure proper cleaning without damaging the art.
End Thoughts
What sets the Navajo sand painting different from other pieces of art is sand as its base. But the sand and natural color that gives it such a unique charm also require care and maintenance for its long life. Lastly, purchase Navajo Sandpaintings from reputed local sellers like New Mexico Gems. You can rest assured about getting the original hand-drawn painting to add a charm to your existing home decor like never before.
