Milestones: Grandma Clara Sherman

Clara Sherman

A portrait of Clara Sherman playing her harmonica woven by Pamela Brown

Window Rock, Navajo Nation Roy Kady  posted a message on Facebook today saying that Two Grey Hills master weaver and national treasure Clara Sherman has passed away at the age of 96.  Although she has been in declining health in the last couple of years, she continued to weave until she was 94.  She received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts in 2004 and the New Mexico Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in 2006. You can gain an appreciation of Grandma Clara’s vibrant energy and joy in sharing her craft in the video below, embedded from Youtube and provided by Wolf Creek Productions.

Ahé’hee (thank you from the bottom of our hearts), Clara, for the way you lived your life and the example that you set for us.  Nizhónígo naníná doo (may you walk in beauty).

Hagoshíí (so long for now)

Mary Walker

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2 Comments

  1. Ann Hornby on August 27, 2010 at 9:06 am

    I am so sad to hear of Grandma Clara’s passing–she was a legend and an inspiration. I’ll always remember her as The Lady with Two Wrists. If I live to my 90’s I hope I accomplish half as much.



  2. Jayne Reed on August 23, 2010 at 9:24 pm

    Clara Sherman’s video is about the best carding tutorial out there! I’m glad I was in time to benefit from her teachings.