Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 0370-1818   CAS 0370-1818; Sandpainting
Category Visual Arts
Object Name Sandpainting
Culture Navajo
Global Region North America
Country USA
State/Prov./Dist. Arizona
County Apache
Other Geographic Data Navajo Indian Reservation; Community: Rough Rock
Maker's Name Fred Stevens (Grey Squirrel) (1922-1983) (attributed)
Date of Manufacture ca. 1950s
Collection Name Elkus Collection (Native American)
Materials Sand; Plywood
Description Sandpainting on plywood depicting Navajo deities, mother earth and father sky; Mother earth is shown with gray body, bearing sacred plants of corn, beans, squash, and tobacco; Father sky's body is black and bears depictions of sun and moon and several constellations; Deities are surrounded on three sides by guardian rainbow band with feathers at corners and at ends and by pair of guardian figures (bat and medicine bundle) at top; Sandpainting is unsigned.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 122.0, Length = 60.8