Museum of Native American History – Navajo Textile Exhibition
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
202 SW O St. Bentonville, AR 72712
www.monah.org

BENTONVILLE, ARK. — The Museum of Native American History (MONAH) has a new exhibition titled “The Way of Beauty: Diné Woven Stories,” currently on view through January 31, featuring 26 Navajo rugs.

MONAH is hosting this exhibition in the museum’s new activity center at 214 SW O Street, open to the public from 2 to 4 pm Tuesday through Saturday. This building is next to the museum’s parking lot.

“The Way of Beauty” shares the history of the ceremonial, artistic and functional uses of textiles made by Diné weavers in the late 1800s-1900s. Influential weavers, including Hosteen Klah, Anita Tsosie, Ruby Manuelito and Mrs Sam, made many of these tapestries.

MONAH thanks Dr Howard Cockrill for donating this lifetime collection to the museum. Cockrill, a retired radiologist in Little Rock, began collecting after finding his first rug on a family trip to the Colorado River. Many rugs depict healing ceremonies, including the one he purchased on the trip decades ago; they drew him in since he was a physician.

“Most of these textiles are handwoven, intricate in detail of color, pattern and symbolism. What I love about Navajo tapestries is that the design was simultaneously woven, meaning they did not follow any template or guide. It came from within the weaver,” said Caitie Holt, Cherokee, curator of the Museum of Native American History.

“In my culture we have a closing prayer, Hózhó Náhásdlíí, which is translated into ‘all is beautiful again.’ These words have always provided me with a spiritual sanctuary that only Bikeyah (Diné land) could fulfill. I grew up on sacred land with rooted memories of old traditions and teachings. Hózhó Náhásdlíí’ is a promise to oneself that we will continue to live the life our ancestors intended; full of health, wisdom, safety and peace. To live by these principles means we continue the Hózhó way — the Diné way. These weavings are a physical proof of that sacred promise. I have titled this exhibition ‘the way of beauty’ in homage of Hózhó Náhásdlíí’. After viewing each piece and its craftmanship, I hope, others can agree that the Diné weavers had this prayer in mind as well,” said Alaynna Littlefeather (Diné).

The museum store will feature many Diné artists during the exhibition run, specifically jewelry with textile motifs. To gain a deeper understanding of this intricate art form, books on weaving, such as Dances with Wool (which features some exact rugs from the exhibition) and Spider Woman’s Children, are available.

For information, 479-273-2456 or www.monah.org.

Special hours offered 9a-11a Tuesday-Saturday for free group tours by reservation
FREE ADMISSION
24,000-year journey highlighting the best examples of Indigenous Art of all the Americas
Now on view: The Way of Beauty a Navajo textile exhibition running through January 31st 2p-4p Tuesday-Saturday
202 SW O St. Bentonville, AR 72712 | 479-273-2456 | info@monah.org | www.monah.org