Welcome to Bryans Gallery !
Corn Maidens
Corn Maidens, sometimes called the Grandmother of Light and the Grandmother of the Sun, represent supernatural beings that gave the gift of corn to the Zuni people. According to Zuni mythology, the Corn Maidens emerged from the middle world at the same time the Zuni people did. Legends vary at this point, but one story tells of insults and harassment that caused the Corn Maidens to leave the people, taking the village corn . With the Zuni people on the brink of starvation, Paytuma went into the Summer-lands with his painted flute, seeking the Corn Maidens. He found them and greeted them with the music of his song sound. As the Maidens greeted him, with a touch of his hand and the breath of his flute, he persuaded the Maidens to follow him back to their deserted people.
On the last day of Shalako, the Zuni people recreate the dramatization of the loss and the recovery of the Corn Maidens. The ceremony is called Molawai. Berzok notes that in the Rain Ceremony, held every four years, and in the harvest ritual, held every fall, the Corn Maidens are a key element . There are eight Corn Maidens, the Maiden of the West has a tray of blue corn, the Maiden of the East has white corn, the Maiden of the North carries yellow corn, the Maiden of the South has red corn, one Maiden carries black corn, and the last Maiden has multi-colored corn .
The flute player is often associated with the Maidens. According to Zuni mythology, the Corn Maidens are dressed in white and the embroidered garments of the summer-land. They wear head dresses and symbolic clothing that carries cloud symbols to evoke rain and corn designs for fertility.
Shopping Cart
Your Cart is currently empty.
Items In Cart:
Your Cart is currently empty.Artist Spotlight
Product Showcase
Evening Roll Call
$945.00 |
GL3055
$700.00 |
GL2090
$1,000.00 |
GL3291
$290.00 |
DR2022
$120.00 |
Jewelry - 30
$675.00 |
GL3246
$550.00 |
Jewelry - 29
$450.00 |
Jewelry44
$49.00 |
GL3214
$125.00 |
MJ2002
$240.00 |
Jewelry129
$150.00 |
Chama River Fall
$1,500.00 |
BELT2006
$225.00 |
GL3219
$125.00 |
FT20248
$30.00 |
GL3118
$1,800.00 |
BELT2020
$680.00 |
CP2001
$87.00 |
DR0245
$80.00 |
