“Changing Bear Woman” Navajo Basket by Sally Black

A significant Navajo basket, crafted by Sally Black, a distinguished member of the esteemed Black family, intricately depicts the narrative of "Changing Bear Woman". Sally Black, the eldest daughter of the renowned weaver Mary Holiday Black, created this elaborate story basket, weaving a complex tale that reflects profound cultural elements.

The basket narrates the saga of Changing Bear Woman, who married Coyote after he defeated a giant to win her hand. Despite their initial discontent, her brothers agreed to take Coyote hunting. However, Coyote's misconduct during the hunt, where he fought over a mountain sheep killed by one of the brothers, led them to send him home with the meat. On his way back, Coyote gambled with the Otter People and insulted the Cliff People, who subsequently killed him.

Upon learning of Coyote's demise, Changing Bear Woman, distraught and vengeful, transformed into a bear using the knowledge Coyote had imparted to her, and she terrorized those responsible for his death. Her rampage extended to her brothers, killing all except the youngest. Guided by the wind, the youngest brother managed to outrun her and ultimately destroyed her hidden heart and lungs, the source of her powers.

This basket meticulously features Coyote and Changing Bear Woman, both in human and bear form. It also includes representations of the big-horned sheep, the otter, the cliff swallows, and the squirrel who attempted to protect her hidden heart and lungs from the youngest brother. Additionally, the basket portrays two Ye'ii and the figure of Small-Wind-and-Knife Boy, who aided the youngest brother in defeating Changing Bear Woman. Around the basket's edge, the twelve brothers are depicted in four groups, symbolizing the four sacred mountains that encircle Navajo land, rendered in the colors of the four sacred directions toward which they fled while attempting to escape their transformed sister.

Sally Black, born in 1959, is a pioneering Navajo weaver renowned for her innovative traditional and pictorial sumac baskets. Raised at Douglas Mesa in Utah, she began weaving at the age of 8, under the guidance of her mother, the esteemed basket weaver Mary Holiday Black, and her grandmother, Betty Holiday. She now resides in Monument Valley.

In 1975, inspired by watching her mother weave a Navajo rug, Sally introduced Navajo rug designs and other pictorial elements into her baskets. This innovative approach includes depictions of human figures, Yei-Be-Chai dancers, deer, dogs, eagles, horses, and turtles. Her creativity and unique designs have earned her numerous accolades, including Best of Show awards in Colorado and at the Museum of Northern Arizona, as well as Best of Class at the Gallup Inter-tribal Ceremonials and the Heard Indian Fair.

Sally Black is credited with pioneering these distinctive basket designs and continues to push the boundaries of her craft, sharing her techniques with a new generation of Navajo weavers.

Condition: It is in very good condition with some fading to the light beige color. No missing stitches or distressing. Has a fluted silver-tone button in the center.

Provenance: this "Changing Bear Woman" Navajo Basket by Sally Black is From a Tucson estate.

Image Reference: The image of a similar "Changing Bear Woman" Navajo Basket (not this one) by Sally Black is from Utah Historical Quarterly, Volume 74, Number 3, 2006, Contemporary Navajo Baskets on the Utah Reservation (clicking on this will take you to another website).  This is a good reference to include how these baskets are made and includes numerous examples and different artists.