Star Liana York - Storyteller, A Time Before Leafs - PLEASE CALL FOR AVAILABILITY AND PRICE

"Storytelling has always played an important role among Native Peoples. The storyteller is at the very center of any given culture, conveying important messages about history and identity. Values, such as respect for the natural world, love for elders and children, and the importance of family were passed along through stories. Oral narrative has been important to most cultures throughout the ages, but the Navajo have long, detailed cycles of stories that are still remembered by a few remaining elders even today. After attending some storytelling gatherings in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, Star decided the subject matter could offer a vehicle for depth of expression and meaning. Storytellers are performers, using a gesture of body and face to enhance appreciation of a story and stimulate the imagination of their listeners... when done well, it is a true art form, conveying through entertainment, key attitudes and morals of a culture. In this sculpture, a Navajo Grandfather is telling one of the many legends of the eagle... that regal bird being an important symbol in many Native American cultures. His hands describe the bird's ascension and one can easily imagine the scene as his listeners gather around the fire and the shadow of his hands cast against the hogan wall brings the bird to life for his audience in the dancing firelight." - Star Liana York