Navajo Sand Paintings

Tom Clah, a Navajo sand painter, once said, “My work is traditional and contemporary, and sometimes a mix of the two.” Traditional and contemporary is what makes the Navajo sand paintings sacred. The ceremonials the Navajo have, contain sand paintings that relate to the ceremony taking place. These ceremonies contain not only sand paintings but also healing songs that return the patient back into “hozho” or balance. Creating the sand paintings has a definite process to it but it is not an easy job. The Navajo sand paintings go through a complex process, which in turn not only has a deeper meaning to it but also creates an image for the healing process.
While the Navajo sand paintings have a complex process in which they are created, they also have a complex meaning in which they are looked at. The sand paintings are usually created on a Hogan floor and different colors of sand are used to create this painting. After the paintings are made and the ceremony has been done, the art is then destroyed. The reason this takes place is because the sand painting is used as a portal to attract the spirits. Once the Holy people get rid of the illness that is present, the sand painting is intentionally destroyed to block the portal and the illness from ever coming back. This process usually takes up to twelve hours from the start of the painting to the intentional destruction of the painting. The creation of the paintings not only takes a great deal of skill but also insists that respect is to be had for these paintings because of the spiritual meaning they contain.
Sand painting artists, such as Tom Clah, thank God for giving them the ability to create this type of art through their hands and fingers. Each painting has its own unique contemporary look to it and this is because of the special way that the colors are used. The different colors that are used to create these sand paintings vary from naturally colored sand to something as simple as charcoal or sandstone. The