Vintage Kachina RARE 2001 LAWRENCE JACQUEZ 24 Carving, Navajo, Eagle, Yei

Lawrence is known for his unusual sculptural renderings of Navajo sandpaintings. Although he is also a painter, his talent as a sculptor has grown to depicting both the Navajo Yeibichai or holy people, as well as the Navajo mythical being called "yendalooshi" or skinwalker. Lawrence struggled with tragedy when his entire immediate family was killed in an automobile accident near his home on the reservation. I started painting after an accident left me unable to continue working in building construction. I have continued to try to express myself in different ways which has taken me on a tour of a number of different mediums.

I went from painting canvas to large murals, to 3-dimensional sandpaintings to wood sculpting. I try to tell a story with each carving.

One of my latest works was a carving of an eagle. It was meant to send a prayer to my children. I carve to honor my daughter and son who are with me in spirit.

I pray that they can see and understand my visions. Lawrence's awards include both First Place and Best Of Division at the Santa Fe Indian Market, as well as First Place blue ribbons at the Gallup Intertribal show.

From the Historic Cameron Trading Post. In an early morning dream, Lawrence Jacquez (pronounced Hackus) had a vision of "a little boy sitting on Dzil Na'oodilii (Mountain around which moving was done), referred to by the Navajo as'twirling mountain' and a mist-like sunburst-horned Yeibichai floating up into the sky".

In an interview, Jacquez said when he tried to paint his dream, a carving came out instead. Lawrence Jacquez was born in 1965.

He has created a style of art that relates to both sandpainting and sculpture. One figure that appears frequently is the Sunburst Yei Chiricahua Apache, which is found in Navajo legend. Jacquez says that he's unable to duplicate the figures and colors exactly because in the Navajo religion that would be wrong. Like many other Navajo, Jacquez believes a complete and accurate rendering of sacred beings would imbue the object with supernatural power, inappropriate for secular use.

Thus many artists change the details of sandpaintings to prevent the Holy people from being called. Therefore, Jacquez alters the designs he relies on in creating his sculptures.

Lawrence Jacquez also continues to paint. For instance, he recently completed several large murals, one on the outside wall of the Nageezi Trading Post and another on the side of a nearby farm facing the highway. These murals of Navajo scenes, while interesting, lack the personal vision and innovation that is present in the carvings and the painted works are not created with the same enthusiasm as his carvings. In the spring of 1989, Jacquez brought his few pieces to Don Batchelor at the Nageezi Trading Post. Shortly thereafter, Bruce Burns, owner of the Thomas Harley Trading Post in Aztec, began to represent this innovative artist and has placed his work in important collections.

In Navajo (Diné) culture and art, a blue rectangular-headed Yei figure represents a female deity or spirit, which are benevolent supernatural beings. Here is a breakdown of their meaning and significance. (pronounced "yay") are revered as "Holy People" or spiritual entities that bring healing power and harmony to the world. The shape of the head is used to distinguish gender: round heads indicate male Yeis, while square or rectangular heads indicate female Yeis.

These figures were traditionally depicted in ephemeral sand paintings used for sacred healing ceremonies. In the 20th century, the depiction of Yeis became popular in permanent forms, such as Navajo rugs and other art.

The color blue in these representations is used as an aesthetic choice or part of a larger symbolic palette, often with no specific meaning attached to the color itself, though turquoise (a common color in Native American jewelry and art) symbolizes spirituality, protection, healing, and strength more generally. Typically show the figures facing forward, often holding sacred plants like cornstalks or arrows. They may also be protected by a Rainbow Guardian figure, which often wraps around three sides of the composition. It is important to note the distinction from Yei-be-chai figures, which are human dancers in profile, wearing masks, who impersonate the Yei deities during a public ceremony. Be sure to check out our store for similar items.

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