Navajo Painting by Myron Denetclaw titled “Grandmother Teaching Shootingway Ceremonial” [SOLD]

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Myron Denetclaw, Diné of the Navajo Nation Painter
  • Category: Paintings
  • Origin: Diné of the Navajo Nation
  • Medium: Watercolor
  • Size:
    19-3/8” x 15-1/2” image;
    28” x 24-1/4” framed
  • Item # 26158
  • SOLD

Navajo Nation artist Myron Denetclaw is an award-winning self-taught Diné painter in the style of the early Diné painters Harrison Begay and Beatien Yazz. There are not many young Diné artists today who paint in this style. Denetclaw’s work clearly displays the influence of his predecessors, while expanding on their style with the energy and enthusiasm of a young, emerging artist.  His interest in traditional Navajo culture inspires much of his work. He believes that by painting his interpretations of Navajo ceremonial functions, he will help preserve the traditions for future generations.

We invited Myron to demonstrate and sell his works during the opening of our recent exhibit of paintings by Harrison Begay.  He graciously shared with our staff and visitors his impressive knowledge of the symbology used in his and Begay’s works. For this excellent painting, titled 

“Grandmother Teaching Shootingway Ceremonial,” he provided a remarkably detailed description, which is reprinted in full below:  

“The painting represents the Holy Girl being protected by Talking God and House God. The center figure represents holy girl, her white legs and arms have black lines representing straight lightning. She wears a brown face mask, the white line above her eyes represents white clay smeared on her forehead. The yellow band below her mouth represents the evening twilight of the sunset. She is dressed in flint arrow/spear armor of all colors; yellow, white, blue, red, brown, and pink. Pink represents the shining glittering effect. Her left hand carries a yellow bow and her right hand carries a red eagle’s feather wand with turkey plumes bound in the middle and end. Her wrists and knees are tied with rainbow streams.

“The white figure to the right of Holy Girl is Talking God—Guardian of the dawn and eastern sky. In the Nightway ceremonial, he’s usually represented carrying a talisman, a meal-bag made of albert’s squirrel skin attached with rainbow streams. But in this painting he carries in both hands, along with his companion, a pair of ‘Talking prayer sticks.’ These prayer sticks, in the shootingway myths, were received from Holy Man and Woman by the direction of the sun to help restore a man who was turned into a coyote through the restorative hoops.

“Talking God’s companion is House God, Hachehoghan. He is a farm god, god of healing, and the guardian of the west and twilight sunset, in all ways complementary to Talking God. The details of his costume correspond to those of Talking God’s except that his color is blue.

"The sandpainting is only made during the 5th day of the 9 day female Shootingway ceremonial. Work is started from the early morning till around the mid-morning with the rites performed around noon. The sand from the finished rites is then disposed of away from the ceremonial Hogan.

“This painting presents an elderly grandmother who still carries on the tradition of the female Shootingway ceremony. She shares the stories of the sandpainting to her grandchildren as they listen closely and smile brightly.”

Denetclaw’s work here is exceptional, and we are pleased to present it alongside our Begay exhibit.  There is no doubt that Begay would have been proud to have influenced this young artist. The painting is signed “Denetclaw” in lower right.  It is framed in a simple, elegant frame beneath a wide mat with a thin blue interior.

Myron Denetclaw (1999-) artist signatureHe has received awards and accolades for his paintings, including Best of Show awards from a variety of respectable institutions.  Denetclaw is currently studying studio arts at Diné College in Shiprock. He was born on September 5, 1999 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.  


Condition: this Navajo Painting by Myron Denetclaw titled "Grandmother Teaching Shootingway Ceremonial" is in new condition

Provenance: from the artist

Recommended Reading: Indian Art: The Dorothy Dunn Collection of Native American Paintings, published in El Palacio, Winter 1977

Recommended Exhibit: Diné Life and Legend: Paintings by Harrison Begay Harrison Begay (1917-2012) was a world-renowned Diné (Navajo) painter who is generally regarded as one of the most successful and influential early Native American painters. Harrison Begay was a world-renowned Diné - Navajo painter who is generally regarded as one of the most successful and influential early Native American painters.

Relative Links: Native American Painting, Myron Denetclaw, Navajo Nation, Dorothy Dunn, Harrison Begay, Beatien Yazz

Close up view of a section of this painting young Diné (Navajo Nation) children.


Myron Denetclaw, Diné of the Navajo Nation Painter
  • Category: Paintings
  • Origin: Diné of the Navajo Nation
  • Medium: Watercolor
  • Size:
    19-3/8” x 15-1/2” image;
    28” x 24-1/4” framed
  • Item # 26158
  • SOLD

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