Yeibichai Dancers with Medicine Man and Patient

Tom Yazzie, Yeibichai Dancers with Medicine Man and Patient, ca. 1991-1992, carved and painted cottonwood, sand, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.103A-Q
Copied Tom Yazzie, Yeibichai Dancers with Medicine Man and Patient, ca. 1991-1992, carved and painted cottonwood, sand, overall: 12 7851 147 34 in. (32.7130.219.7 cm.) A (base): 3451 147 in. (1.9130.217.8 cm.) B (medicine man): 10 1243 12 in. (26.710.28.9 cm.) C (woman with basket): 9 1243 in. (24.110.27.6 cm.) D (first man in mask): 123 783 34 in. (30.59.89.5 cm.) E (first woman in mask): 8 783 123 in. (22.58.97.6 cm.) F(second man in mask): 11 184 143 34 in. (28.310.89.5 cm.) G (second woman in mask): 8 123 123 in. (21.68.97.6 cm.) H (third man in mask): 113 124 in. (27.98.910.2 cm.) I (third woman in mask): 9 123 343 34 in. (24.19.59.5 cm.) J (fourth man in mask): 10 123 783 12 in. (26.79.88.9 cm.) K (fourth woman in mask): 8 343 583 14 in. (22.29.28.3 cm.) L (fifth man in mask): 11 144 184 in. (28.610.510.2 cm.) M (fifth woman in mask): 9 123 343 14 in. (24.19.58.3 cm.) N (sixth man in mask): 113 343 12 in. (27.99.58.9 cm.) O (sixth woman in mask): 9 1243 38 in. (24.110.28.6 cm.) P (seventh man in mask): 10 344 144 in. (27.310.810.2 cm.) Q (eighth man in mask, bending): 9 145 124 34 in. (23.514.012.1 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.103A-Q

Artwork Details

Title
Yeibichai Dancers with Medicine Man and Patient
Artist
Date
ca. 1991-1992
Dimensions
overall: 12 7851 147 34 in. (32.7130.219.7 cm.) A (base): 3451 147 in. (1.9130.217.8 cm.) B (medicine man): 10 1243 12 in. (26.710.28.9 cm.) C (woman with basket): 9 1243 in. (24.110.27.6 cm.) D (first man in mask): 123 783 34 in. (30.59.89.5 cm.) E (first woman in mask): 8 783 123 in. (22.58.97.6 cm.) F(second man in mask): 11 184 143 34 in. (28.310.89.5 cm.) G (second woman in mask): 8 123 123 in. (21.68.97.6 cm.) H (third man in mask): 113 124 in. (27.98.910.2 cm.) I (third woman in mask): 9 123 343 34 in. (24.19.59.5 cm.) J (fourth man in mask): 10 123 783 12 in. (26.79.88.9 cm.) K (fourth woman in mask): 8 343 583 14 in. (22.29.28.3 cm.) L (fifth man in mask): 11 144 184 in. (28.610.510.2 cm.) M (fifth woman in mask): 9 123 343 14 in. (24.19.58.3 cm.) N (sixth man in mask): 113 343 12 in. (27.99.58.9 cm.) O (sixth woman in mask): 9 1243 38 in. (24.110.28.6 cm.) P (seventh man in mask): 10 344 144 in. (27.310.810.2 cm.) Q (eighth man in mask, bending): 9 145 124 34 in. (23.514.012.1 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment
Mediums Description
carved and painted cottonwood, sand
Classifications
Keywords
  • Figure group
  • Indian — Navajo
  • Occupation — medicine — doctor
  • State of being — illness
  • Ceremony — Indian — Medicine Ceremony
  • Ceremony — dance — Yeibichai Dance
Object Number
1997.124.103A-Q

Artwork Description

The Yeibichai are supernatural beings who created the Navajo people and taught them how to live in harmony with the universe. This piece represents the Nightway ceremony of the Navajos, in which a medicine man calls upon the power of the Yeibichai to heal someone. The ceremony also involves a dance with fourteen people: six men, six women, a dancer representing the Talking God, and one representing the Water Sprinkler. Tom Yazzie has depicted all of the participants in this sacred ceremony in his carving, wearing their ceremonial masks and headdresses to resemble the Yeibichai.

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