Spider Woman Was Here

Diné Weavings from the Philbrook Collection

The Diné (as Navajo people refer to themselves) tell a traditional story about a powerful cultural heroine known as “Spider Woman” who taught women the art of weaving long ago.

This exhibition explores Spider Woman’s gift through a variety of Diné weavings from the Philbrook collection. In a diverse range of styles, which vary from community to community and artist to artist, weavers give physical form to the principle of hozhó with an array of colors, patterns, and designs. The common thread, though, is the care and precision seen in the fine yarn, the tight weave, and the balance of the design.