For the 62nd Indian Fair & Market, we selected Venancio Aragon's rug, Prism of Emotions, as our advertising and merchandise image. The weaving won a 2^nd Place Division, Weaving & Textiles and a Judge’s Choice Award at the 2019 Juried Competition. It was purchased by the Heard Museum and was on display in the recent exhibition, Color Riot. Aragon learned to weave from his mother and took textile classes at the University of New Mexico. He also holds degrees in Anthropology and Native American Studies.

 

Venancio Aragon (Navajo), Statement about Prism of Emotions

When designing this piece, the use of the color wheel gradation features heavily in the color changes.
Also, I was interested in color-therapy research and the physical and emotional effect that colors have
on the human soul. It was my intent to display a full range of emotions within the piece using
color and geometry. As is the case with many Navajo textile artists, there was no drawing
or sketches conducted before the weaving started. As I was weaving the piece, I kept incorporating
more shades of color, as I would be continually dyeing them. It was not until the finishing
of the weaving was done and I was able to see the full creation from a distance that I realized
the properties of excessive use of color with sharp linear geometry.

The piece invites the viewer to look deeper within the lines of color and shape to feel and think.
The eye may attempt to focus on a section of the tapestry, but the bold saturation of color
throughout the entire piece keeps the viewer fixed on trying to see everything at once.