Legendary Navajo Sandpainter Rosie Yellowhair speaks about her early origins with Joe Tanner

This video is a rare looking to the origins of one of the most famous and noteworthy Sandpainting Artists of our time, with none other than Rosie Yellowhair. Joe Tanner, owner of Tanner Trading, made her acquaintance early on and was able to give her valuable insight regarding the color direction of her art that ultimately shaped the trajectory of her success. He knowledge and understanding of sandpainting from the perspectives of her medicine men ancestors works as an invaluable insight into the traditional ways, teachings and story telling within her culture. “It’s not for enjoyment, it’s an honor” stated Rosie Yellowhair of her traditional Navajo artwork. Rosie has been practicing her native form of art for over 40 years and shared enthusiastically information about her pieces that were for sale. When asked, Yellowhair eagerly explained the back story and significance of the elements to her designs; ceremoniously, sand painting is only done by ordained Medicine Men or Women. It is a healing ritual for people who are ill. A medicine healer makes a sand painting on the ground using only four colors (white, green, yellow and black), four plants and four mountains. The ill person sits on.