Untitled, (Namkha), 2009
Untitled, (Namkha), 2009 (detail)
Untitled, (Namkha), 2009 (detail)
Untitled, (Namkha), 2009 (detail)
This piece is an exploration of the ritualistic craft of Namkha (God’s Eye) making. Namkhas were made to achieve understanding of the unknown, as portaling devices to commune with ancestors, or made while under the influence of peyote, thus achieving enlightenment and shamanic power. In our present culture, this craft is appropriated by Christians, preschools, boyscouts, etc. as a simple craft often symbolic of the process of prayer or devotion to Christ. The fallen branches used in this piece were found on the ground, and none were broken down to the size they are now.
