Sand drawings are an ephemeral form of
art. This paper compares two different
forms of sand art, that of Jim Denevan and
the Navajo tribes. Although they use
different methods and techniques to create
their sand drawings, Denevan and the
Navajos are very similar in other aspects
of their artworks. These two art forms are
similar in the fact that they both use the
sand drawings for healing or therapeutic
purposes. The Navajos sprinkle sand from
the drawing onto the person for healing.
Denevan began drawing as a way to cope
with his emotional family life. The image and
purpose of healing are not the only
similarities between these two. The destruction of
their sand drawings are just as important
as the image that is created in the first place.
Whether the sand is thrown back onto the
ground (the Navajo) or the ocean washes it
away (Jim Denevan), in both cases the
images are destroyed, thus creating a never-
ending connection to the land. However,
their ephemeral existence can still be
remembered through photographic
reproductions. By looking back on these sand
drawings and appreciating them, we can
reconnect to the land.
Now a days sand arts have become a great way to express the opinions of masses. We are seeing sand arts depicting war victims, terrorist attack victims, violence victims, or simply social issues in societies. These sand arts have become the outcry of these unfortunate incidents and they have had a greater impact on the societies and on the face of them too.
