BERDINA CHARLEY
BERDINA CHARLEY
Navajo / Arizona • Weaver
Berdina Y. Charley, Diné (Navajo), is a fifth-generation tapestry artist from Tselani, Arizona. She learned the fundamentals of Navajo weaving at Cottonwood Day School in Chinle, Arizona. Encouraged by her sister, DY Begay, Berdina began to explore beyond traditional styles, developing her own unique interpretations. Berdina’s work blends regional patterns with innovative techniques like wedge weave and soumak twining. Living on the Navajo Nation in northeast Arizona, Berdina raises churro sheep, and with her sisters she processes and dyes the wool bi-annually. Berdina continues her family's weaving tradition with her daughters and nieces, preserving the legacy of her Tótsohnii clan.
"B.B. King once said: the beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you. Listening to his music reminds me to value my weaving. I was taught that weaving is life and it’s an essential part of my culture. By continuing to weave, I sustain this art, and no one can ever take that away."
BERDINA CHARLEY
Other Work by Berdina Charley
