SECRET DANCERS - by artist Anderson Benally (Navajo) (1954 - 2013) - 22w x 29h
Signed and numbered by the artist
The main dancer represents the Shaman (Holy Man)
whose vision was needed to make the dance sacred. The
Dance was called the ‘Ghost Dance.’ People danced to
bring their loved ones back from the spirit world and to honor
the buffalo as well as traditional values.
From askART:
"Anderson Benally is best known for his paintings of Indians in what he refers to as "natural settings, colored with a deeply historic overview." His art reflects his beliefs in the Native American spiritual experience. His impressionistic landscapes, a blend of realistic and surrealistic images, are filled with the mysticism of dreams, and include totems, bear brothers and shaman visions.
He uses a sprinkling of snowy color on the textured and swirling landscapes. Most of his paintings include a circle, a depiction of the round shields of the hunters and the hunted. His use of shades of blue or earth tones, rawhide, leather and feathers reflect his concern with the environment and the products of Indian life."
