Grace Henderson Nez

Grace Henderson Nez (May 10, 1913 – July 14, 2006) Her main styles were old designs from the 19th century and Ganado style. Henderson Nez, her daughter Mary Lee Begay and granddaughters Gloria Begay and Lenah Begay are known for their achievements and quality in Navajo weaving. Henderson Nez was born into the Coyote Pass People Clan for the start of the Red Streaked People Clan on the Navajo Reservation in Ganado, Arizona. On the reservation, she lived in a hogan, which can be in various shapes made out of timber, stone, dirt, and bark. The rising sun brings wealth and good fortune, therefore the doors would face east to better capture it.

Henderson Nez's mother and grandmother taught her how to weave at about the age of 5. In her lifetime, Henderson Nez made several rugs. When she was done with one she would sell it and move on to the next rug. Weaving is considered a woman's art form; the income from the sale of a rug would help make the woman in the tribe more independent. Though she followed many of the traditional ways of living, like living in a hogan on the reservation, the modern world was not lost on Henderson Nez. She encouraged her children and grandchildren to attend college in order to attain a higher level of education.

When you learn how to weave, you also improve many other skills, like self-control, patience, tenacity, making decisions and develop your thinking. One important aspect of Navajo weaving is called the spirit line. This spirit line connects the inside of the rug to the outside enabling the weaver to spiritually move on to the next weaving. Henderson Nez's rugs became famous because of her extreme attention to detail with her vivid geometric designs.

Ganado Wall Hanging (2004) This a 24.5 inches by 24.5 inches rug made of dyed red and brown commercial wool. From bottom to top, there is one band of brown that connects to the red band above it with stepped pyramids. There is a total of eight pyramids connecting the layers. The red band consists of three stepped diamonds. Then there is a thick band of plain brown wool. After this band, the line of red with brown diamonds repeats, but now the stepped diamonds connecting the red layer and top brown layer are red.

The design of the rug is Ganado style, this specific design was inspired by the ceremonial baskets she produced with a small group of Navajo women.

Exhibitions 1994 Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff Hubbell Trading Post (1970s-present)

Collections Southwest Native American Collection at the Kennedy Museum of Art, Ohio University Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff Denver Art Museum in Denver, Colorado Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Wickenburg Arizona

Awards and honors In 2002, she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Museum of Indian Arts and Crafts in Santa Fe. In 2005, she received the Lifetime Honor of a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship. In folk and traditional art forms, this is the highest honor the artist can receive in the United States.