Two Grey Hills Weaving
Two Grey Hills Weaving
Unknown weaver
c. 1910
Bob: This was the very first weaving that Henry, Shim谩 and I looked at together. As it was unrolled, Shim谩 brought her hands to her face as she absorbed the impact of this weaving. Shim谩 explained that this weaving had the most power of any of the weavings in the catalog. We watched Shim谩 take out a small pouch and loosen the strings. She withdrew a pinch of corn pollen and offered a blessing to the weaving. Her offering of pollen re-energized the weaving.
Henry: Shim谩 says that the arrows point out to radiate the energy of the weaving. The weaver was engaged in great hardships that required deep connection with the Holy People. Her story of struggle is part of the weaving. The arrow that pierces the center of the rug is for both healing and protection.
Bob: As you view this weaving, consider how that first quick glance suggests reflection symmetries. Deeper inspection shows that the weaving is full of asymmetries鈥攑erhaps reflecting, as Shim谩 says, the aspirations of the weaver to heal and to find her way from struggle to 丑贸锄丑贸 (balance).