Sand Paintings – Playground for the Gods
 

Sand paintings is a Navajo phrase which means "place where the gods come and go." Sand painting was used for centuries in religious rituals, even healing ceremonies performed by Navajo medicine men. Originally, sand painting for a religious ceremony is made on the ground and destroyed at the end of the ritual.

However, in the late 1940's, there was a need to preserve this ancient tradition. Thus, Navajos began to create permanent sand artworks, changing the design slightly to shelter the religious significance when these paintings were shown publicly. Most of these Navajo sand artworks reflected the Navajo environment and lifestyle.

How Are Sand Paintings Made?

A sand painting these days is made by slowly dribbling sand through the hand onto heavy duty glue-covered particle boards, using sand made from naturally colored crushed rock, stone, or minerals to come out with different colors. These Navajo artworks are usually hung within a frame or attached as picture hangers, using the back of the board for leverage.

Since Navajo paintings are used as part of healing ceremonies, chanting is part of the ritual. This is usually performed by the priest, or medicine man, and on each night a ritual is performed, a sand painting is created. According to tradition, the sand painting must be ceremoniously destroyed before dawn, or else unthinkable events can be inflicted upon priest or patient.

While a sand painting also became the basis of textile designs, many Navajos feared to wear garments inspired by sand painting because it was believed that if the clothing was not destroyed, it would bring bad luck to the wearer.