Black Mesa Weavers for Life and Land:
Elvira Horseherder and Family, Big Mountain
MBM-332. Elvira Horseherder holding the "Day and
Night" weaving woven by her and two of her daughters, Velina
(age 19) and Valine (age 15), July 26, 2003, at the Hardrock
Chapter. 34 in. x 28.5 in. This is a striking image of stars
on a field of red and a deep blue sky, woven in black, deep red,
white, dark blue, and a light thread of emerald green that separates
day from night. It evokes the old-style biil (Navajo dress)
as well as the skies of Dine' Bike'yah. SOLD
Five weavings received from Elvira Horseherder and daughters, Big Mountain, AZ (December 2003):
MBM-348.
Elvira Horseherder, elder, Big Mountain. "Rainbow"
healing ceremonial weaving, 76.5 in. x 46.5 in. (6.4 ft. x almost
4 ft). As Elvira wrote, this weaving tells the story of "Two
boys who travel with rainbow, and how they travel a long, long
time ago." It's from the Hozonji (Blessing Way) origin
story of the twin sons of Changing Woman, the hero twins, who
travel to their father, the sun, who tests them in many ways,
and finally helps provide them with weapons of flint and lightning
with which to slay the monsters on Earth and make the Earth 's
surface safe for people to live on. Photos cannot do justice
to this extraordinary weaving, almost 4 ft. x more than 6 feet,
woven of handspun churro wool from her own flock and commercial
wool. Of immense power, this unique and rare weaving would be
selling in a gallery or trading post for at least $6,000 and
likely more. We offer it here well below retail, at $3,500
($2,500 to weaver; $1,000 is a tax-deductible donation). [Returned
at weavers' request 4/1/04.]
Detail
of MBM-348, the Hero Twins.
MBM-348
in two photos on floor of my livingroom.
MBM-349.
Elvira Horseherder, elder, Big Mountain. "Pottery design,
with blocks and stars," 47.25 x 37.25. Another of Elvira's
superbly woven rugs that photos cannot do justice, this is woven
of handspun and commercial wool, in a subtle and powerful range
of colors, including black, pale grey-green, deep red, light
grey, warm chocolate brown, dark brown, deep brown, burnet sienna,
deep rust, warm tan, light pink, deep olive green. Elvira makes
them all come together in a weaving of great harmony and balance,
impeccaby woven, and sturdy enough to put on the floor. $1,500
($1,000 to weaver; $500 is a tax-deductible contribution).
[Returned at weaver's request 4/1/04.]
MBM-350.
Angie Cody, Elvira's second oldest daughter, wove this "Old
Grandma Style" reminiscent of the "Gallup throws"
from the early 20th century. This soft but sturdy weaving is
woven of handspun churro wool, 38.75. in. x 18.25 in., in white,
black, grey, red, rust, and brown. Soft and sturdy. $450
($300 to weaver; $150 is a tax-deductible donation). [Returned
at weavers' request 4/1/04].
MBM-351.
Erma J. Nells, another daughter of Elvira Horseherder, has woven
this brilliant and bright classic double sadddle blanket she
calls "Rainbow," 60.5 in. x 30.5, in light sky blue,
gold, white, black, mars red, with arrow/prayer feathers in the
four corners, and two rows of a medium cobalt blue at the bottom,
which suggests an ascension from evening to dawn. Straight and
true, $650 ($450 to weaver; $200 is a tax-deductible donation).
[Returned at weavers' request 4/1/04.]
MBM-351
detail.
MBM-352.
Erma J. Nells, daughter of Elvira Horseherder. This wonderful,
soft "Old Grandmother Style" double saddle blanket
is woven of all handspun wool, soft and strong, 62 in. x 31 in.,
in natural white, chocolate brown, black, warm tan, dark brown,
and aniline-dyed orange-red and mars violet. $950 ($700
to weaver; $250 is a tax-deductible donation. [Returned at weavers'
request 4/1/04.]
MBM-352
detail.
Elvira
Horsehder at Hardrock Chapter, July 27, 2003.
Elvira Horseherder
and "Ganerations" weaving, at Teesto, June 2000.
MBM-99.
Elvira writes about this large and extraordinary weaving: "I
make this rug to pray and sing. It's called the basket design.
It stands, feet and head. There is no water. Dry land here. And
dry air too." The ceremonial Dine' basket (ts'aa')
is like a living being, a visualization of the universe. 
MBM-165.
Elvira Horseherder's family, perhaps by one of her granddaughters,
a "pottery design," 24 in. x 17 in., handspun and native
processed wool, warm rust, white, black. This weaving has been
donated by a buyer. It has some weaving imperfections but still
has a lot of feeling. SOLD
#MBM-31. Powerful, large, and dramatic all handspun natural
wool, described by the weaver as "a generations weaving--each
[stepped] rectangle is a child, a grandchild, and their grandparents
and great-grandparents, going back to the beginning and moving
around the center, and continuing... and the feathers, they're
prayers for the generations..." 50 in. x 32.5 in., black,
white, carded grey/tans. SOLD.
#MBM-31. Classic single
saddle blanket, all handspun natural wool, grey, black, and natural
white, 30 in. x 30 in. SOLD (at the Cultural Survival
bazaar). Elvira Horseherder donated the net proceeds from
the sale of this weaving to the general fund of the Black Mesa
Weavers for Life and Land. Ahe'hee', Elvira.
MBM-169.
Vina Horseherder is Elvira's second younger sister, and a daughter
of Big Mountain elder, Ruth Benally. A busy mother of an infant
daughter, she recently sent me these two weavings, and wrote:
"I have 29 sheep and 2 horses, 2 cows, and dogs, so I love
my animals..." She also wrote, "I always herd the sheep,
that's why I never have enough time..." But she does have
enough time to weave these very finely woven weavings. This is
a traditional banded star design blanket in all native processed
wool, 26.25 in. x 20.25 in., with an unusual and very pleasant
use of a slate blue, grey/tan, black, white, light ochre, rust
brown, and deep red. (Returned to weaver at her request.)
MBM-168.
Vina Horseherder. Lovely and very well woven all handspun
churro wool blanket with a wonderful warm gold/brown from natural
vegetal dye (wild carrot), deep rust, carded grey/tan, natural
white, with dark brown edge cords, 21.25 in. x 15 in. (Returned
to weaver at her request.)
MBM-30.
Lively and unique pictorial with two pottery jars, all handspun
and natural dyed wool, by Alfreda Horseherder, age 22 (a daughter
of Elvira), 29.5 in. x 20.5 in. SOLD.
#MBM-29. Cheerful and bright mat woven by Reuben Horseherder,
age 8, a grandson of Elvira, 14.5 in. x 10 in., all commercial
wool. SOLD.