Artist: Marilyn Jim
Material: Natural Colored Wool
Size: 60" X 32 1/2"
Awards: 2023 First Place Gallup Inter - Tribal Indian Ceremonial
The Navajo storm pattern rug is a significant cultural design, often embodying symbolic elements that relate to Navajo cosmology and storytelling. The central feature of the storm pattern rug usually includes a rectangular or square element that represents the "center of the universe," which is significant in Navajo culture as a sacred space or home "Hozho". "Hozho" is a foundational concept in Navajo culture and philosophy, often translated to mean "beauty," "balance," "harmony," or "goodness." The term encapsulates more than just aesthetic beauty; it is a way of living and perceiving the world that promotes a state of balance and harmony with all creation. This central figure is typically connected by lines to smaller rectangles or squares at the corners of the rug, symbolizing the four sacred mountains that define the traditional boundaries of the Navajo homeland.
The "storm" aspect of the pattern is represented by zigzag lines extending from the central figure to the corners, symbolizing lightning, which is a powerful and vital element in Navajo mythology. Lightning is often associated with rain and agriculture, crucial for survival in the arid regions inhabited by the Navajo. Thus, the rug not only serves a decorative purpose but also carries deep cultural and spiritual significance, invoking protection, stability, and blessings for the home.
The origin of this rug pattern is the Tuba City Arizona area.
