This is a Vintage Mounted and Framed Navajo Sand Art Painting Signed by Navajo artist Rita Johnson of New Mexico and is called “Yei Female.” In Navajo mythology, the Yei spirits mediated between the Great Spirit and humans (the name Yei derives from Yeibicheii, meaning the Holy People.)

The colors are gorgeous in turquoise blue, terra cotta / rust white, pinkish, gray, sage green, red, tan and black.

The square wooden frame measures about 5.5” by 5.5”. The sand painting measures about 3.5” by 3.5”. The back of the frame has the name of the piece and the signature of Rita Johnson, whose work is featured in several galleries and museums. It ready to hang it on a wall.

Navajo sand painting - also called dry painting - has an interesting history. Sand paintings were not made to be an "art object," but rather as part of a healing ritual or ceremony. The medicine man would use naturally colored grains of sand and pour them by hand to create these elaborate "paintings." After the medicine man completed the sand painting, the person in need of healing sat on top of the sand painting because the sand painting provided a portal so that the healing spirits could come through the painting and heal the patient. After removing the illness from the person, the healing spirits returned to the sand painting and the illness was believed to be contained within the sand painting. Once the healing ceremony was over, the painting was destroyed to destoy the illness.

Today, they are made as a work of art to marvel and enjoy as they require skill and talent to make these one-of-a-kind beauties.

See pictures for details. Packaged carefully and shipped with tracking. Check out my other vintage Native American art and pottery.

(K)