Beatien Yazz’s Interpretation of a Navajo Wind Chant [SOLD]

On the back of the painting, the artist wrote the title as “The Wind Chant (Part of Night Ceremonial).”  The image looks somewhat like other paintings of the Navajo Fire Dance from the Mountain Chant.  Perhaps the two may be from the same ceremony.  The dancers in the Fire Dance are painted in grey tones like those in this painting which must be a standard presentation for such a dance.  The biggest difference between the presentations of the two dances is Fire Dancers usually are clothed only in loin cloths and the dancers in this painting are fully clothed, so, perhaps there is a difference between the dances, even if they may be from the same ceremony.

Beatien Yazz (1928-2013) Little No Shirt - Jimmy Toddy experimented greatly over his career both in subject matter and treatment. He did, however, adhere basically to casein and tempera, seldom using any other media. His coverage of subject matter was broad, including many aspects of Navajo daily life, ceremonies, crafts, and wildlife. 

This presentation of a Wind Chant ceremony is one of his more significant paintings of serious Navajo cultural events.  Yazz has shown clearly that the wind is blowing from the backs of the dancers.  The head feathers are blowing in the direction of the wind as is the smoke from the fire.

Condition:  appears to be in original condition.

Provenance: from a gentleman in Albuquerque.

Recommended Reading: Yazz: Navajo Painter by J. J. Brody