Legend of Spider Woman

"The Legend of Spider Woman: Traditional Navajo Weavings from the Permanent Collection"

September 26, 2004

SPIDER WOMAN "VISITS" THE ROCKWELL MUSEUM OF WESTERN ART: NAVAJO TEXTILE EXHIBITION WEAVES LEGENDS INTO DISPLAY

On Thursday, October 7th, 2004, The Rockwell Museum of Western Art unveils a new exhibition, "The Legend of Spiderwoman: Traditional Navajo Weavings from the Permanent Collection." This exhibition is devoted to exploring the myth of Spider Woman and its powerful influence through the brilliant tapestries of the Navajo tribes.

The opening reception is scheduled for October 7 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Members are invited to attend free of charge. Not-yet-members will be charged the Museum admission fee: $6.50 general; $5.50 seniors and students, and free to youth under 17. Special features of the opening will be Museum Docent Stafford Lyons' storytelling of the Legend of Spiderwoman, and a brief tour of the exhibition by Sheila Hoffman, the Museum's new curator. The Legend of Spider Woman will remain on public view through January 2, 2005. It is the second in the Rockwell Museum's two-part series on Navajo textiles, and the second exhibition dedicated to textiles since the close of its nationally touring show, Warp & Weft in 1998.

Spider Woman is revered among many Native tribes as the creation goddess who spun the world out of her web and sang all things to life. Her creative powers were given to the Navajo through the art of weaving -- a skill the Navajo passed on through generations along with the tale of the first great weaver, Spider Woman. Her story and gift to Navajo provide a platform for displaying traditional Navajo textiles. Although the legend tells much about the Navajo culture, it is widely accepted by historians that Navajos learned weaving from the Pueblo tribes around the mid 17th century. The first Navajo weavings reflected this influence. Weavings eventually developed to include designs based on their own culture, and then later were influenced by traders and popular Oriental styles.

"The Legend of Spider Woman" exhibition features 18 weavings created between 1870 and 1940, and includes styles from every major region of the Navajo reservation in the Southwestern United States. The myriad of influences from commercially produced dyes to the influence of white man's trading posts underscores the complicated history of the resilient Navajo peoples.

"This exhibition is aligned with the Museum's mission to preserve and interpret our collection of American Western and Native American art, and to foster a deeper understanding of these cultures and aesthetic traditions," says Executive Director Kristin Swain. "For the past two years, we have focused on Western art, with exhibits featuring paintings and sculpture. Now we want to highlight these beautiful Native American textiles from our own permanent collection."

The Rockwell Museum of Western Art is open to the public seven days a week, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The museum is located in the renovated 1893 former City Hall, on the corner of Denison Parkway and Cedar Street in Corning. Inside, this historic building conveys the feel of the West, and visitors are immersed in a Western experience from the moment they enter the doors.

In addition to the exhibition galleries, the museum provides art packs on several themes for young visitors and a Trading Post gift shop with Western and Native American items including jewelry, pottery, weavings, books, reproductions, and kitchen items. In the adjacent Cantina, visitors can enjoy Western-style lunch, dinner and snacks. Members can enjoy discounts and many special privileges. Further information about the Navajo Rug Exhibition and the Rockwell Museum of Western Art is available by calling 607-937-5386.