"Rain Spirit" Slate & Mixed Stone, Parrot Feather Sculpture by Cliff Fragua
12 x 3 "
 
Cliff Fragua - Jemez Pueblo
"Rain Spirits"
 
The series of wall hangings are titled "Rain Spirits." Among the Pueblo people of the southwest United States, it's all about rain. Our song, our ceremonies, the dances, are about the rain blessings the Rain Spirits gift to us. The Pueblo culture is an agrarian society with reliance of the rain. Agriculture is our center with focus and priorities in the relationship to the ceramonial calendar. 
 
The "Rain Spirits" incorporate the symbolism of rain, moisture, clouds, land, mountains, lightning, rainbow, plants, etc. The headdresses of the Rain Spirits are either half round or may have step designs. The half round represents rainbow, while the step design represnts clouds. The macaw feathers represent humidity and warmth since the bird comes from tropical environments. The turquoise heishe (beads) symbolizes the color of the sky but also the lining of the clouds. The shell heishe represents the ocean where life began.