Bio
Gloria Fain comes from a prolific line of Navajo Master Weavers, growing up in Ganado Mesa, near Snakeflat. Describing the dedication to her work, “My work is dedicated to the ancestors for making the sacrifice in preserving and teaching their offspring.” Her family’s clan is Coyote Pass-Jemez Pueblo. And her passion for weaving started early when she was taught by her mother and grandmother to weave at 3 years old. Gloria grew up watching her family shearing sheep, cleaning the fleece, carting, hand spinning, and vegetable-dyeing wool.
Gloria’s late grandmother was a Navajo Master Weaver, Grace Henderson Nez, born north of Kinlichee, in Northern Arizona on the Navajo Reservation. Grace is the recipient of the prestigious National Endowment for the Arts Award for 2005. She raised hundreds of merino sheep for years, due to the Livestock Reduction Act, later she was forced to only raise thirty head of sheep.
Gloria’s mother is Navajo Master Weaver Mary Henderson Begay. Mary is the recipient of the Living Legend Award 2018, Arizona Governor’s Award. Mary worked for over forty years at Hubbell Trading Post, National Historic Site in Ganado, Arizona. She retired in 2005. Mary was commissioned by the Gloria F. Ross Tapestries for several weavings designed by Kenneth Noland.
Gloria’s Instagram
Q&A
1. Where did you grow up, and what are some of your favorite memories from that place?
I grew up near Ganado Mesa, in Snakeflat; favorite memories include all seasonal weather, raising sheep and cattle; spending time with family.
2. Who taught you to weave, and how old were you when you first started? I started to weave around 3 years old, my mother taught me mostly but I also received a guidance from my grandmother as well.
3. Is weaving something that runs in your family? Were your mother, grandmother,
or other relatives weavers too? Yes, very much so. My family’s clan is the Coyote Pass Jemez Pueblo so were very much deeply rooted with weaving. We have lots of weavers in our family, mothers, grandmother and grandfather; sisters, in-laws, aunts and other extended relatives.
6. Are there traditional patterns or symbols that are especially meaningful to you oryour family?
My mother and grandmother are known to weave the geometric patterns utilizing the Ganado Red, the Chief’s Blanket and old-style patterns are a family staple; mother and I currently put signature on all our weavings, something we didn’t always practice in the past; I’m more of a contemporary weaver using various materials.
7. Do you follow traditional methods, or have you developed your own unique style
over the years? When I started weaving, my patterns were always traditional but as I grew older, I decided to use an array of colors and materials as well as various patterns. I like to push traditional boundaries however always getting confirmation from the family for approval while staying with-in the limits of respecting myself and Navajo culture and religion. Through this evolution, I was able to create my own contemporary style.
8. Are there particular colors you’re drawn to, and do they have any special
significance in your work? I’m fond of working with vegetal dyed yarn as well as bright colors such as cochineal red and indigo blue. My other favorites are prickly pear and pomegranate organic dye.
9. How do you decide what design you’ll weave next? For me, there are two options: one, I will have a pattern already in mind or I would create a sketch using Adobe Express other times, it’s like working on a blank canvas and let the pattern lead me.
Bio
Mary Henderson Begay is a Navajo (Diné) weaver who lives traditionally on the Navajo reservation in Ganado, Arizona. Her artistic talents have provided her family with income from handmade weavings.
She learned her skills from her mother, Master Artist Grace Henderson Nez, born in 1913, a woman who worked relentlessly for years developing and perfecting her weaving craft. It is no wonder that Grace is the recipient of the 2005 National Endowment of the Arts Award and Lifetime Achievement Award from the Heard Museum.
Like her mother, Mary’s rugs have been made on vertical looms using the same methods Southwest weavers have used for the past three hundred years. In 1976, to honor the United States on its 200th anniversary, the Arizona Highways magazine, in collaboration with the Navajo Tribal Council, commissioned a flag-rug woven in anticipation of the American Bicentennial. Mary Henderson Begay was chosen to weave the Arizona State Flag. The project appeared on CBS in the “On the Road to ‘76” segment of the CBS Evening News. The 4 ft X 6 ft American flag-rug was raised over our nation’s Capital and over the Arizona Capitol. The American flag rug is currently housed at the Heard Museum in Phoenix.
Mary retired from Hubbell Trading Post, a National Historic Site, in Ganado, Arizona, after 40 years of demonstrating Navajo weaving in the Visitor’s Center. Friends of Hubbell Trading Post, a non-profit organization that was established in 1990, created a scholarship in honor of three weavers, including Mary Henderson Begay. The scholarship program through 2025 has awarded approximately over $315,000 to Native American students in northern Arizona and the Four Corners area.
Mary’s handmade wool rugs can be seen at resellers like Garlands.
Read more about the history of the Hubbell Trading Post here!
Hubbell Trading Post, 1800’s
Trading wagons at Hubbel Trading Post
Rug trading room at Hubbell
Q&A
Personal & Family Background
1. Where did you grow up, and what are some of your favorite memories from that place?
I was born in Ganado, AZ but grew up near Kinlichee and Fluted Rock AZ on the Navajo Indian Reservation. My parents were very traditional and had strong faith in Navajo Religion which is how they raised all their children including myself. I grew up with boys only and no sisters. We helped our parents rise sheep and we migrated to various summer homes.
2. Who taught you to weave, and how old were you when you first started? My mother taught me how to weave. At first, I use to play with her weaving tools and loom which was a clear indication that I was ready to learn, I must have been three or four years old.
3. Is weaving something that runs in your family? Were your mother, grandmother, or other relatives weavers too? Yes very much so. Both of my grandmothers wove, my aunts and other immediate family members also wove. Weaving was the end result of rising sheep, shearing sheep, dying wool, spinning wool as well as washing wool. Every family member participated in caring for the sheep.
6. Are there traditional patterns or symbols that are especially meaningful to you or your family? Yes, my family is know for utilizing the bold geometric patterns such as Ganado Red, Klagetoh Red, Storm Pattern Style, Chief Blanket and Moki Stripes.
7. Do you follow traditional methods, or have you developed your own unique style over the years? Yes, I follow traditional methods every time.
8. Are there particular colors you’re drawn to, and do they have any special significance in your work? I’m typically fond of the Ganado Red, black, and the natural white. I weave my artist signature into my weavings.
9. How do you decide what design you’ll weave next? I usually do not know until I sit at the loom and begin weaving; it’s just like starting on a blank canvas.
10. Do you name your rugs or collections? If so, how do you choose the names? No, I typically do not name my rugs because that is not traditional.
Weaving Process & Philosophy
11. What does a typical weaving day look like for you? I usually weave through out the day and into the night, I take plenty of breaks, I take my time and usually do not rush.
12. How long does it usually take to complete one rug? Since I’m retired, I can finish a weave within a month or two. The larger rugs takes me three-four months.
13. What materials do you prefer to work with, and why? I prefer to weave with Merino sheep wool, it’s softer than mohair and the fiber typically is flexible and easy to work with.
14. Is there a part of the weaving process that you especially enjoy—or one that’s especially challenging? I enjoy the entire process of weaving from start to finish
15. What do you hope people feel or think when they see your rugs? Peace, happiness, a sense of beauty and belonging in the universe.
Looking Ahead & Personal Touch
16. What makes you most proud when you look back at your work? To be blessed with an art form that I can teach the next generations to come.
17. Has weaving ever helped you through a difficult time in your life? I keep weaving in a holistic space and keep all bad energy away from my weaving.
18. Do you have a favorite rug or design you’ve made? What makes it special to you? The Moki Stripe and the Chief’s Blanket patterns are my favorite because they keep me close to my ancestors.
19. What does it mean to you to see your work being shared in new ways, like through machine-made rugs? To expand in this area of technology, it allows for me to share my culture and art with the world.
