Big Thunder and Corn Sandpainting by Joe Ben, Jr. (Navajo) SOLD

Big Thunder (Ii'ni' Tsoh), one of the Thunder People from Navajo mythology, is surrounded by corn plants and a sky full of stars in this stunning sandpainting by Joe Ben, Jr. Lightning is coming off of his wings, and pieces of rainbow are seen on his body.  He is wearing a headdress with buffalo horns on the sides and three eagle feathers coming out of the top.

Using intense colors derived from the exceptional materials that he collects himself around the Navajo Reservation and on his international travels -- blue lapis from Afghanistan, galena from Morocco, gypsum from Cuba or coal from the Four Corners area -- he creates exceptional sandpaintings that are a contemporary interpretation of traditional Navajo ceremonial elements.

Speaking of his art, Joe Ben, Jr. says, "Through the art of sand painting, based on the cycle of nature, I am capable of communicating my feelings and my ideas.  It is through these sand paintings of Mother Earth, of Father Sun and their children (the trees, the rivers, the birds, the divinities and us), that I can imitate the powerful work of nature.  I then try to use nature's aesthetic work as a part of my life and to add dimension to my existence..  Finally, I hope with this art to encourage people to consider the aesthetics of nature, because that is what art is all about...Nature...What else is there?"

Sandpainting width 20", height 16"; framed width 29", height 25"