Graphic Design x Weaving: The Navajo Cultural Arts Program Experience

Quanah Yazzie

Emerging Artisan, 2017-18 Cohort (Silversmith/Weaver)

 Yá’át’ééh shik’éí dóó shidine’é, shí éí Quanah Yazzie yinishyé. Ma’ii Deeshgiizhnii nishłí. Naasht’ézhí Dine’é bashíshchíín. Bit’ahnii dashicheii. Dibé Łizhiní dashinálí. Tsé Nitsaa Deez’áhí ha’a’aahjį’go Tsin Dahiisk’id wolyéé déé’ naashá. Akwít’áo diné tsélkę’ nishłí.

Greetings, my name is Quanah Yazzie. I am of the Coyote Pass Clan, born for the Zuni People Clan. My maternal and paternal grandparent’s clans are the Under His Cover Clan and the Black Sheep Clan. I am 24 years old, originally from the community of Rock Point, Arizona. This is how I identify myself to you and to the Holy People.

As a young Navajo person, I have made it my life’s goal to keep tradition, culture, language and history of my people strong and resilient from complete globalization and influences that affect the Navajo tribe from cultural extinction. The Navajo Cultural Arts Program (NCAP) has been one of the first steps into giving me hope and inspiration to providing knowledge to our people in the future. As a student emphasizing in Weaving, I had the chance to emerge and strive towards a mastery level. NCAP has been one of the most exciting and best decisions I have ever made in my life. While growing up, I lived with my grandparents after the death of my mother when I was 6 years old. I remember how much I’ve grown to this day culturally. I first learned to weave by only observing and talking with my grandmother. I never actually attempted to warp a loom in my lifetime until this past year during a workshop I’ve attended in Phoenix at the Heard Museum. I was shockingly surprised by myself when I wove my first rug that came out beautifully.

My first piece - done at the Heard Museum

I found myself weaving like I knew how to do it already. My movements were natural and flowed smoothly as I reached the top of the loom to finish the rug. I think it’s amazing how my mind and my body kept a little part of something that I didn’t inherit completely. It was from this day on, I felt that I could do so much more. One thing, you should know is that I am a graphic designer. I come from a mother that painted, beaded, made moccasins and learned a lot in fashion. She was great. My father was also a painter and beader. So, I was not surprised when I started to drift towards more of becoming an artist myself. I learned a lot of my techniques while going to school at Arizona State University and Mesa Community College in the Valley. I came home after 6 years to live with my family and reconnect myself to our Navajo ways. I found a perfect way to merge my two lives into one when I joined NCAP. I learned so much from master weavers and my instructors at Dine College. I find myself visualizing more designs and recently started to experience a lot with color. A lot of what I do now is more contemporary, where color is more heavier over traditional design. I have a very long way to go to perfect my technique in weaving.

My motivation increased recently when I was awarded the Community Choice Award in the NCAP Museum Exhibit in April 2018 for “Sunset”, a traditional wide ruins rug infused with fiery colors. This has been a wonderful experience with NCAP. I currently have a larger loom up and going that looks stunning in its earlier stage.

 As an emerging weaver, I encourage the younger generations to learn more about our cultural arts. Weaving is a medicine. When you weave, your body heals itself mentally, spiritually, physically, and emotionally in ways you can’t imagine. I found something for myself that utilizes my life’s teachings and knowledge to find a place in this world. It’s never too late to find yours.
 
Ahxéhee’. Thank You.