The Art: A Native American “Ghost Shirt”
The Story: You could say that I had been looking for this shirt for 18 years.
The first time I visited the Southwestern States was in the 90’s, travelling by car for 2 weeks over 1500 miles, exploring a landscape that couldn’t have felt more alien. Literally. If you’ve never been to Arizona, New Mexico, or Utah, you should make it a point to visit, because you’ll feel like you’ve landed on another planet.
Montezuma’s Castle, south of Sedona
The time-carved mesas and canyons feel ancient, elemental, and their million-year-old history makes your own existence feel insignificant. The native peoples who lived here before us understood this and have a respect and reverence for nature that infuses this part of the world with a spirituality that is palpable.
On my first visit, looking through galleries and shops in Santa Fe and Sedona, I searched for that certain something that represented this feeling but I never found it. But when I found myself back in Sedona in 2012, that certain something found me. In our bed and breakfast, in fact.
When I saw this beautiful shirt hanging in our room, I was immediately smitten, and although it was for sale, I still debated buying it. (It wasn’t exactly in the same price bracket as fridge magnets or postcards.) But after literally dreaming about this ghost shirt the night before leaving Sedona, I realized that sometimes there are forces at work that you can’t ignore. So I told the owner of the B&B that they would have to find something else to put on their wall.
It may have taken 18 years for me to put it on my own wall, but this hauntingly beautiful piece of art has found its perfect home – in my heart and soul.
The Fact: Ghost shirts were worn by dancers who believed they were imbued with spiritual powers. The rituals of the ghost dance itself took on many meanings for different tribes, helping to unite tribes from various nations, even ones with a tradition of conflict.
What a beautifully hand crafted piece Jane-I know you’ll enjoy looking at it on the wall, a piece of art like that deserves to be displayed!
It has pride-of-place on my second floor landing, Alison!
Leaves fridge magnets – in the cold, and a much better investment. Good choice!
LOL!
What a magical piece of art!
I couldn’t agree more, Irene.
I can see why you fell in love with the ghost shirt — and the Southwest!
I keep getting drawn back there, too, Marilyn!
What a great souvenir! I love acquiring something special like that on a trip but rarely find such a gem.
I’m not much of a shopper, but I do look for these kinds of artisinal objects, since they have so much more meaning.
When a place has such a remarkable spiritual affect, we want to take it with us. What a gorgeous statement this must make in your home.
I don’t regret one cent that I spent on it, Betsy!
That ghost shirt is amazing with all it’s detail. I can see why you wanted it! I visited Tuscon last year and desperately wanted to see Sedona. I really hope to see Montezuma’s Castle someday as it looks incredible!
You should also consider Mesa Verde, Michelle. It’s like Montezuma’s Castle times 50!
Sedona is a spiritual place and it seems fitting you dreamed about and bought a ghost shirt there. I’d not heard the story of the ghost shirt before. The story and the shirt are beautiful.
Thank you – everything just felt right about the whole decision to take that particular piece of art home with me.