Star Maiden
Gerald Dawavendewa (Hopi & Cherokee)
Across the desert mesas, the night sky fills with the elements of the cosmos. In a traditional dress with corn designs, a young Hopi woman reaches outward from earth to hold a star within the universe. She wears her hair in a style representing butterfly wings, insects that gather pollen and help give life to flowers. Her belt symbolizes rain as it falls upon a disk, with colors representing the four directions and symbolizing the earth. A blue corn plant rises upward next to her, reaching multi-colored rain clouds that gather along with the corn plant as dragonflies flutter below. An ancient village merges with the land carved with journey spiral symbols on her left. A lighting bird crosses the star-filled sky with a comet and moon circling the planet as she reaches upward.
Acid-free photo paper is used to print the artwork, and smudge-, fade-, and water-resistant inks ensure a lasting print. The 11x14 inch (27.9x35.5 cm) matted print includes a bevel-cut matte, backing board, description, artist biography, and cultural details. An envelope safeguards the print, and matted print will fit a standard frame; image of framed print is included to show possibilities, frame is not included.