June
30th
2009
Navajo Code Talker Samuel Tso (center) will be participating in this year's Adopt a Native Elder Rug Show in Park City, Utah. From left in this picture from 2007 are Barbara Spelman, Jennie Slick, Samuel, Judy Sutton and Code Talker Keith Little.
Tempe, AZ Adopt a Native Elder will hold their 20th Annual Rug Show in Park City , Utah on the weekend of November 6th through 8th, 2009, just in time for holiday shopping. The show draws weavers and other artists from many parts of the Navajo Nation. You’ll find rugs and other art work and you’ll be able to see demonstrations of weaving, carding and spinning. This year’s event will include a tribute to native veterans featuring Navajo Code Talker Samuel Tso. The show is a rare opportunity to witness history and art that you’ll want to attend if you can.
Hagoshíí (so long for now)
Mary Walker
June
9th
2009
At the Adopt a Native Elder October 2008 Food Run at Sanders, one of the elders asked her daughter to see if Linda Myers of ANE could get a “carding machine”. Linda was not sure what the elder wanted and sent weaver Barbara Spelman to ask more questions, and determine what it was the elder was requesting. After a few more questions , Barb ascertained that it indeed a carding machine (or drum carder) that the elder had seen. The elder has cataracts and can no longer weave, but wanted to continue to participate in the weaving process by carding and spinning. Hand carders were difficult for her to use. Barbara was on the case.
Back in Tucson Barb made a mention to Vicky, owner of Grandmas Spinning Wheel, local weaving, spinning, and knitting shop that should a used drum carder drop out of the sky, she was interested. Lo and behold, Vicky quickly said she was willing to donate the used one she had, since she had recently purchased a larger one for the shop. She would trade it for two soft churro fleeces. Barbara knew that Mary Walker at Weaving in Beauty had some churro fleeces from Monument Valley High School’s Future Farmer’s program and Mary donated two of those to the cause in February. In early May, the drum carder was delivered to the elder during the ANE’s spring Sanders food run. The following picture was taken at the May 2009 Food Run by Adopt a Native Elder photographer John Aldrich. The elder is unidentified to protect her privacy, but was last seen feeding wool into the carder.
Barbara Spelman, right, with Adopt-A-Native-Elder recipient and her daughter. Photo by John Aldrich
Thanks to Mary Weinzirl for the material for this article and to Barbara Spelman for better giving through barter!
April
29th
2009
Weaver William Whitehair at his loom. Photo courtesy of John Aldrich.
I’ve just added two interesting new links to the site and I hope that you’ll enjoy both of them. Weaver William Whitehair of Dinnebito, AZ has a web site link in the weaver’s section. William weaves as part of a traditional Navajo lifeway that includes raising churro sheep, cattle, goats and horses. William also acts as a caregiver for his mother. His web site has an excellent gallery of his work, which ranges from traditional Teec Nos Pos patterns to innovative pieces like his Offerings rug pictured below. William says that his inspiration for Offerings comes from “the morning dieties who watch over us and put good things in our paths”.
William Whitehair's Offerings represents the blessings bestowed by the Holy People. You can click for a closer view. Photo courtesy of John Aldrich.
Also added to the Weaving and Fiber Arts Resources section of the site is a link to Adopt a Native Elder, a highly respected non-profit organization dedicated to supporting efforts to help elderly Navajo people remain in their own homes as they age. The organization provides many options for financial support and volunteer activities and also sponsors a large yearly rug sale in beautiful Park City, Utah.
Hagoshíí (so long for now)
Mary Walker
