Currently on Exhibit

Diné Sacred Sandpainting

A new show at Ringing Rocks Foundation features Diné Medicine Woman, Walking Thunder and renowned photographer, Larry Lindahl portraying the beautiful and deeply spiritual practice of Diné sandpainting

The show, which will close on December 18, 2009, features the sacred, healing art of Diné sandpainting. The Diné use sandpaintings as a way of inviting the spirits or Yei into the material plane in order to bless, heal and offer guidance.

"The intention of this new show is to educate people about this ancient healing technique used by the Diné to interact with the spirit realm." offers Arcania Blystone, Executive Director of Ringing Rocks Foundation. "When we learned that the Arizona Archaeological Society was planning on hosting a festival to honor Native American culture, we knew that we wanted to contribute to the success of the event. We offered to host a sandpainting demonstration by Walking Thunder as a way of sharing this important aspect of the spiritual life of the Diné people."

To bring this beautiful Diné tradition to life, RRF has partnered with renowned photographer, Larry Lindahl, whose work appears in Arizona Highways magazine as well as many other publications, to work closely with Walking Thunder as she gathers the various types of stones and pollens used in the paintings. Larry's images illuminate the prayers and rituals used as the stones are ground into sand and brings to life the ceremony of sacred sandpainting throughout the entire process of a healing ritual.

Click here to take a virtual tour of the exhibit.

The patient, Larry Bidtah, sitting upon the sandpainting allowing the Yei spirits to heal him.