Tom McNeely (Canadian, B. 1935) "Young Navajo Man" Signed lower left. Original Watercolor painting on Paper.

Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day of Issue Maximum Card for the U.S. 22c Navajo Art stamp issued September 4, 1986.

Once the Navajo moved nomadically across America's Southwest. For Navajo weavers, each move meant a new loom had to be constructed, for the old one could not be brought along. Yet, with an ingenuity that has characterized the Navajo for generations, they built looms from materials found in their new surroundings. Weaving tools presented another challenge. They were often hand-fashioned of the hardest woods, which required special searches of the countryside to locate just the right branches of oak, wild holly or mountain mahogany. To construct the loom and tools, the Navajo weaver spent countless hours, yet the most time-consuming work had not even started. For to create the beautiful Navajo weavings, they had to tend the sheep, gather the wool, card and spin yarn, and forage for plants to dye the yarn. Finally, the blanket design was conceived and the blanket painstakingly woven. The Navajo youth pictured is dressed in a traditional costume and jewelry.

Image Size: 14.75 x 18.5 in.
Overall Size: 21.5 x 25.75 in.
Unframed.
(B10540)

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21.5 x 25.75 in