Ganado Study Baskets (1999)

"This is a rug pattern. I did the first one very flat which is harder to do," notes Elsie Holiday, explaining how she wove her Ganado Study series. Ganado is the name of one of the most popular styles in Diné (Navajo) rug weaving, known for its deep red and striking accents of black. The style was inspired by early trader Lorenzo Hubbell who founded the Hubbell Trading Post in Ganado in 1878. Elsie demonstrates her command of her art form by experimenting with this pattern in three very different shapes. The first in the series is a tall slender jar with a rounded shoulder and a narrow opening. Next is a large container style with a wide rim and tapering base. Notice the striking black finish on each rim. Finally, she recreates the pattern in a round, flat design in a strikingly modern interpretation of the traditional tray form.