I've been reading a book about Kit Carson, and in it, the author had a few words about Navajo artifacts, that he got from a book called The Book of the Navajo, by Raymond Locke. Quote: Navajos hated to complete anything-whether it was a basket, a blanket, a song, or a story. They never wanted their artifacts to be too perfect, or too close-ended, for a definitive ending cramped the spirit of the creator and sapped the life from the art. So they left little gaps and imperfections, deliberate lacunae that kept things alive for another day. Too them, comprehensiveness was tantamount to suffocation. Aesthetically and literally, Navajos always left themselves an out.
Even today, Navajo blankets often have a faint imperfection designed to let the creation breathe-a thin line that originates from the center and extends all the way tomthe edge, sometimes with a single thread dangling from its border; tellingly the Navajos call this intentional flaw the "spirit outlet." unquote.
What I was wondering, was if there was anyone that might have some Navajo artifacts that have noticed this. Someone might even have a modern blanket with this imperfection."
I just thought it interesting.
Gary
Even today, Navajo blankets often have a faint imperfection designed to let the creation breathe-a thin line that originates from the center and extends all the way tomthe edge, sometimes with a single thread dangling from its border; tellingly the Navajos call this intentional flaw the "spirit outlet." unquote.
What I was wondering, was if there was anyone that might have some Navajo artifacts that have noticed this. Someone might even have a modern blanket with this imperfection."
I just thought it interesting.
Gary
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