Mary Holiday Black

Mary Holiday Black (born c. 1934) is a Navajo basket maker from Utah. During the 1970s, in response to a long-term decline in the craft, Black played a key role in the revival of Navajo basket weaving by experimenting with new designs and techniques, pioneering a new style of Navajo baskets known as "story baskets".

Mary Holiday Black
Bornc. 1934
OccupationBasket weaver
Spouse(s)Jessie Black (1950s to 1994)
Children11
HonoursNational Heritage Fellowship (1995)

In 1995, Black became the first Navajo artist and the first artist from Utah to receive a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Her baskets have been featured in collections and exhibits throughout Utah.

Early and personal life
Monument Valley, Utah

Mary Holiday Black was born around 1934 to Teddy and Betty Holiday in Monument Valley, Utah. She had six siblings, and as the eldest daughter she was expected to stay home and take care of the household. She never attended school. When Black was 11 years old, she learned basket weaving from a relative of her grandmother's.[1]

In the 1950s, Black married Jessie Black, and the couple eventually had 11 children. Jessie died in 1994.[1] Black passed on her weaving skills to nine of her children, and several of her children have gone on to become respected basket makers, including Jamison Black[1] and Sally Black.[2][3]

Black speaks only the Navajo language, and has never learned English. She uses an interpreter when necessary.[4][5]

Role in basket weaving revival

During the first half of the 20th century, the active practice of Navajo basket weaving had been steadily declining.[4] Rug weaving had become a better source of income for women than basket weaving, and only a handful of Navajo basket makers were left by the 1960s.

In the 1970s, Black contributed to a revival of Navajo basket weaving, experimenting with new designs and techniques. Her innovations included expanding the size of traditional baskets, using vegetable dyes to create more subtle colors, incorporating motifs from ancient tribal pottery and rock art, and using Navajo religious imagery to weave visual narratives into her baskets.[4] Black became known as a pioneer of Navajo "story baskets",[2] weaving themes such as "Placing the Stars" and "Changing Bear Woman" that were inspired by traditional legends.[3] Although some Navajo community members were initially skeptical of the way Black was altering long-held basket making practices, her work gained acceptance over time.[5]

In 1993, Black received the Utah Governor's Award for the Arts.[6][7] In 1995, Black was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts.[4][8] She was the first artist from Utah[5] and the first Navajo artist to receive the honor.[7] Black has been called "the matriarch of Navajo basketry".[9]

In 2006, Black was a participating artist in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.[1] In January 2013, baskets by the Black family were featured as part of "Weaving a Revolution: A Celebration of Contemporary Navajo Baskets", the first major museum exhibit on Navajo basket weaving.[5] Black's work has appeared at the Natural History Museum of Utah,[1] Utah State University Eastern,[10] the Indian Museum of Lake County,[11] and the Utah State Folk Arts Collection.[12]

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References
  1. Congdon, Kristin G.; Hallmark, Kara Kelley (2012). American Folk Art: A Regional Reference [2 volumes]: A Regional Reference. ABC-CLIO. pp. 570–571. ISBN 9780313349379.
  2. Levin, Jennifer (August 11, 2017). "Designing woman: Basket weaver Sally Black". Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  3. Wertkin, Gerard C. (2004). "Native American Folk Art". Encyclopedia of American Folk Art. Routledge. p. 388. ISBN 9781135956158.
  4. "Mary Holiday Black". National Endowment for the Arts. 2013-01-24. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  5. Moulton, Kristen (January 14, 2013). "Traditional art made new in Utah Navajos' baskets". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  6. Miller, Craig R. (1993). "Utah: Utah Arts Council". Public Programs Newsletter. 11-12. American Folklore Society. p. 52.
  7. Dalrymple, Larry (2000). Indian Basketmakers of the Southwest: The Living Art and Fine Tradition. Museum of New Mexico Press. p. 89. ISBN 9780890133385.
  8. Himes, Geoffrey (October 3, 1995). "NEA Fellowships Honor Folk Artists". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  9. "Pueblo Baskets: Navajo or Dine Baskets". North American Indian Research Institute. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  10. "Weaving a World: A way of life in the Four Corners". Utah State University Eastern. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  11. Segall, Grant (2016-04-08). "Indian Museum of Lake County in Willoughby needs a new home (photos)". cleveland.com. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  12. "Friendship Basket". Utah Division of Arts and Museums. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
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