The Southwest art prints market is dominated by traditional and contemporary arts and crafts by the Hopi, Navajo and Pueblo Indians of New Mexico. Focusing on the Navajo tribe, Navajo paintings have truly captured the fancy of many art enthusiasts.
The Navajo people have been recognized as extraordinary and very creative artists. The Navajo women weave beautiful blankets, rugs and clothing expressing the warmth of earth colors, and unique geometric patterns.
These designs often depicted earth-like symbols, figures of the Navajo belief in spiritual significance.
Authentic Navajo art consists of handmade items made by a Native American craftsperson, a member of a federally or state-recognized Indian tribe, using high-quality, natural materials that are not machine stamped.
In other words, everything is handmade, making use of natural materials and without the assistance of machines.
It is also important to know that Navajo artworks are spiritual or medicinal in nature.
Take for example their sand paintings - Navajo artworks 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 the sand painting also became the basis of textile designs, many Navajos feared to wear garments inspired by sand paintings because it was believed that if the clothing was not destroyed, it would bring bad luck to the wearer.
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