Blanket c. 1865 - 1875

Editor: Here we have a Navajo blanket, created sometime between 1865 and 1875. It's made of wool and, honestly, seeing the repeating geometric shapes gives it almost a hypnotic feel. I’m curious – what is the first thing you see when you look at this piece? Curator: The first thing I see, or perhaps feel, is the resonance of hands, of generations, shaping wool into worlds. Think of the weaver, choosing those geometric forms. Those aren't just diamonds; they're echoes of Hogan roofs, constellations perhaps. And what stories are woven into the space *between* the threads, do you think? Editor: Wow, I hadn't considered it on that deeply personal level. More the repetition, less the, um, spirit. Do we know anything about who made this? Curator: That's the ache, isn’t it? The individual voice often fades, becoming instead the voice of a people. We can analyze the dye, the weave, date the piece, but the weaver remains…a presence. Almost a collaboration, actually, between the artisan and the elements. I'm curious: do these designs resonate with you? What thoughts do they provoke in you? Editor: It's definitely not something I would have initially picked to feel emotional about, but I understand now, the stories held within it. That it's not just a textile design. Curator: Exactly. It’s a reminder that art isn’t always hanging on a wall. It can be something woven into the fabric of daily life, literally and figuratively. The personal, the functional and, absolutely, the transcendent.