Navajo Sand Paintings

 Navajo Sand Paintings

    Navajo people are known for creating detailed paintings made of sand. They believe the paintings can be used to wish people good luck and to heal people who are ill.

    Traditional sand paintings are created and destroyed in one day. These sand paintings are made by Navajo medicine men. They choose from designs that have been passed down through the ages and are shared only with those who use them.

        Creating a sand painting is a special occasion. The sand painter makes the painting in a ceremony that begins early in the morning. To make the painting, the medicine man trickles sand through his fingers onto a board on the floor. Sometimes the sand is mixed with other materials, such as cornmeal or charcoal, to give it color. If the painter makes a mistake, he erases it with plain sand.

    A sand painting may be anywhere from a 2-foot to a 20-foot square. More than one person makes larger sand paintings. The paintings often have yellow, blue, white, and black colors. Red, which stands for sunlight, sometimes is added.

    Sand paintings show pictures of figures from Navajo legends. These often are objects from nature, such as lightning, plants, and animals. The objects often have human features. Navajo people value the paintings because the symbols connect them with the past.

    In the 1940s, Navajo artists began making permanent sand paintings. They sprinkled the sand onto boards covered with glue. Most of these paintings now are sold and used to decorate homes.