Southwest U.S.

San Juan Matriglyph The San Juan Matriglyph stands in a row of larger than life size square shouldered figures pecked onto a rock art panel above the San Juan River in Utah. A small figure within the larger one could represent an actual pregnancy or a spiritual one. A line of water connects the matriglyph to a horned animal . All life needs water to survive in the southwestern desert. The arcs above her head, necklaces and earrings indicate her shamanic spiritual power as do her large hands and feet. In the rock art of the southwest, female genitalia emphasize the labia and clitoris and are called la-wa.
Source: Rock art. San Juan Anthropomorphic Style San Juan Basketmaker/early pueblo culture of central Colorado plateau c. 1-900 CE Butler Wash. San Juan River. Utah
 

 

Great Goddess of the Little Colorado The Great Goddess Matriglyph of the Little Colorado River is incised in rock art. She expresses beautifully the sacredness of life. The spirals adorning the Great Goddess indicate her supernatural power and status as do her large upraised hands and her feet.The figure under her upraised arm is protected. The spirals in her pubic area connect her to the sheela-na-gigs of birth, death and regeneration around the world.
Source: Rock art. Little Colorado River. Arizona

 

Fremont Goddess Fremont Goddess protects her tribe. Tears of compassion flow from her eyes. She is trapezoidal in shape and wears necklaces, a belt and a skirt. Her pubic triangle connects her to the sheela-na-gigs of other world cultures depicting the cycles of birth, death and regeneration. The horned snake with breasts below the Fremont Goddess is from rock art. According to scholars who have lived among and studied modern Puebloan groups, the Hopi believe the breasts of the horned serpent are the source of blood found in all animals, and the source of water used by man, animals and plants.
Source: clay sculpture 900-1000 CE Prehistoric Museum of Eastern Utah, Price Background: Clay vessels. Snake Valley Wasatch Plateau Bottom: Rock art. Nine Mile Canyon. Utah
 

 

Corn Maiden calls forth the energies of fire, air and water from above. From her vessel, she waters the earth, the pueblo and the corn tree of life.
Kiva Fresco, Coronado State Park, Bernalillo, New Mexico
 

 

Crow Mother is the mother of all the kachinas who are spirits of the Hopi universe. Crow Mother offers corn and switches.
Hopi Kachina, Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff

 

Grandmother Spider Woman nourishes life. She take earth, mixes it with her saliva and shapes thoughts. After spinning her cloak of creative wisdom, she covers the thoughts and sings them into being. She watches over them always.
Heard Museum, Phoenix, Arizona
 

 

La Virgen Guadalupe is very much alive today as a Goddess in the Southwest. Herstory is included in the Black Madonnas

 

Mother Earth/Father Sky
birth the worlds together creating ALL.
They are surrounded by Rainbow Woman.
Navajo Sand Painting

   
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The Southwest banners were first exhibited at the Ghost Ranch Art Center,
Abiqui, New Mexico, October 1-5, 1997

 

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