Filming the Teller sisters

The Craft in America crew visited the Idyllwild Arts Academy last summer to film with Navajo weavers, Barbara Teller Ornelas and Lynda Teller Pete. Barbara and Lynda have taught weaving at Idyllwild’s Native American Arts Summer Program for over 16 years. Barbara and Lynda are fifth generation Navajo weavers who specialize in the Two Grey Hills style.

Filming the landscape on the way to Idyllwild
Lynda Teller Pete works with a weaving student
Weaving student
Weaving his first rug
Weaving student and her intricate design
Weaving student
A technological design
Barbara and Lynda’s grand niece
Blessing a finished rug
Interviewing out in the forest

We then traveled to Canyon de Chelly in Chinle, Arizona, which Barbara and Lynda consider “sacred ground.” Here we filmed Barbara and Lynda teaching students how to weave in the canyon. According to traditional Navajo beliefs, Spider Woman or Grandmother taught the Navajo how to weave and Spider Rock is the home of Spider Woman/Grandmother.

Filming in Canyon de Chelly
Wild horses roam the canyon floor
Barbara Teller Ornelas and Lynda Teller Pete weaving in the canyon
Barbara Teller Ornelas weaving in Canyon de Chelly
Lynda Teller Pete
Weaving students
Weaving students
Filming Barbara in front of Spider Rock
Spider Rock