Wool Rug

Label

This weaving by Imogene Willie uses four colors from natural plant dyes to embody the harsh, rigid beauty of the desert. Its patterns extend from each of the four cardinal directions, meeting at the center of the rug to symbolize unity and harmony. The four directions hold deep significance in Diné tradition, representing balance across the physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental realms. The intersection of the four directions communicates the insight that true harmony of self comes from a holistic approach. The Diné word for a rug like this is Dah'iistł'ó, which translates to “progressing from the ground up,” emphasizing the step-by-step journey of the weaving process.

From the 2025 exhibition A Space for Dialogue 122, Weaving Ké, curated by Nizhonie Denetsosie-Gomez '25, Conroy Intern

Course History

Gallery Talk: Space for Dialogue Weaving Ké, Winter 2025

Exhibition History

A Space for Dialogue 122, Weaving Ké, Nizhonie Denetsosie-Gomez '25, Conroy Intern, Alvin P. Gutman Gallery, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, July 25 - March 30, 2025.

Provenance

Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff, Arizona; sold to Alfred F. Whiting (1912-1978) for the Dartmouth College Museum, 1973.

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