Fine Art - Native American Paintings Diné of the Navajo Nation, Naabeehó Bináhásdzo Paintings

Myron Denetclaw “Nightway Stories”

Myron Denetclaw, Diné of the Navajo Nation Painter

Category: Paintings
Origin: Diné of the Navajo Nation, Naabeehó Bináhásdzo
Medium: casein
Size:
29” x 21-¼” image;
39-½” x 31-½” frame
Item # C4823B
Price: $8000

This extraordinary painting by Diné of the Navajo Nation artist Myron Denetclaw. It was completed during his studies for the Master of Fine Arts degree in the summer of 2026.

The following narrative was provided by the artist:

"This painting depicts a storytelling scene in the process of making a sandpainting during the eighth day of the nine-night winter healing ceremonial called the Tł'éé'jih 'Nightway'. The focus of this painting is centered on the patient, who carries a basket of cornmeal and a shawl draped over her shoulders. Between her are young apprentices learning and carrying on the knowledge of the Nightway ceremony. They are helping with the sandpainting, which will later be used to heal the female patient. The young man on the right is sharing the knowledge of the coming holy deities, the three holy people that would appear on the final evening. They are Hache'yalti' (talking god), Zahdolzhahii (fringe mouth), and Ghaaskiidi'(harvest god).

"Hache'yalti holds a squirrel pouch tied with a rainbow stream, and in the other hand he holds an ear of yellow corn, symbolizing the female patient. Zahdolzhahii wears a lightning storm basket and a tripod-shaped headdress. His body design represents lightning. He holds in one hand a rattle decorated with turkey and eagle plumes, and in the other, a decorated bow. Ghaaskiidi' represents planting and cultivation; he holds his planting stick in one hand, decorated with lightning and turkey plumes, held together with rainbow streams. All the deities wear decorative kilts, elaborate tassels, and pouches.

"Behind the patient is a holy deity named Jo'hananeii', "the sun". Jo'hananeii' holds onto the power of perception bound to the rainbow; he is represented protecting the patient during her ceremony. The black background represents the cosmic world; surrounding the sun are numerous constellations significant to the Navajo universe, and the rainbow represents the bounds of the night sky. Between the figures are two of the four holy plants used in Navajo ceremonialism. The two represented here are the blue squash and the black corn plant, rooted in dark storm clouds."

Diné of the Navajo Nation artist Myron Denetclaw (born 1999) has received awards and accolades for his paintings, including Best of Show awards from a variety of respectable institutions. Denetclaw recently graduated from Dine College in Shiprock, New Mexico, with a studio arts degree. He is now pursuing a masters degree. He was born in Shiprock, New Mexico. He resides in Shiprock with his parents, Milford and Mamie Denetclaw, and his brother Matthew. His maternal clan is Táchiiníí and his paternal clan is Hooghanłání.