Dogs, Deer and People Basket (c.1990)

Experimenting with different sizes and shapes is one of the ways modern Diné (Navajo) weavers began to expand their art form. In this masterful example, Sally Black weaves a tall jar-like shape, instead of the traditional flat tray. She borrows the shape and the animal motifs from neighboring Apache and O’odham artists. In crisp black and white she portrays bįįh (deer), an animal revered for its meat and useful hide. As Sally explains, “Deer—we only get that meat once a year. We hardly have it. The deerskin we use a lot of ways, for different ceremonials, different ways, [like] the Beauty Way.” Her design also portrays dogs, faithful companions and partners in work and play. “The dogs and the men really like deer meat, and we use all of that . . . It’s still like that.”