HARRY WALTERS (NA-TON-SA-KA) American / Navajo / Dine, Born 1943 Guardians of the Sacred Pollen, 1971 Mixed media on canvas (sand-painting) Signed and dated lower right. Framed. This large-scale painting by Harry Walters (Na-Ton-Sa-Ka) is a sophisticated contemporary interpretation of traditional Navajo sandpainting iconography. Set against a rich, textured terracotta background that mimics the earthen floor of a ceremonial hogan, the composition features two elongated, highly stylized Yei (Holy Person) figures, characterized by their geometric bodies and traditional ritual attire. The central narrative is framed by a Rainbow Guardian, which curves protectively around the lower portion of the scene, while intricate symbols of sacred flora and fauna—including cornstalks and small animal totems—populate the space between the primary deities. This work exemplifies Walters' unique position as both an accomplished artist and a scholar of Diné philosophy, as it translates ephemeral, sacred designs into a permanent medium while maintaining the spiritual "artistic superpower" and cultural integrity rooted in his heritage.
( Artwork: 60 X 39 3/4 inches (excluding frame) $350-650
ARTIST PROFILE: Harry Walters, known by his traditional name Na-Ton-Sa-Ka (b. 1943), is a distinguished Navajo artist, archaeologist, and scholar whose life’s work has been profoundly dedicated to the preservation of Diné culture and philosophy. Educated at the Institute of American Indian Arts, the Kansas City Art Institute, and the College of Santa Fe, he achieved early acclaim as an artist, winning numerous honors at the Gallup Inter-tribal shows and exhibiting at prestigious venues like the Philbrook Museum of Art. Beyond his personal creative output, Walters spent 35 years as an educator and the director of the Diné College Historical Museum, where he was instrumental in curating extensive artifact collections and designing the curriculum for the Center of Diné Studies. His immense contributions to the Navajo Oral History project and tribal education are immortalized in a 2009 documentary archived at major institutions, including the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian, cementing his legacy as a vital guardian of Navajo heritage.
