Irene
Hardy Clark
Navajo Weaving
Irene Hardy Clark was born to the Tbaah (Water's Edge People), her maternal clan, and to the Honghahnii (He Walks Around People), her paternal clan. Born in Crystal, New Mexico, on December 26, 1934, she currently lives in the same area on the Navajo reservation at a location identified as Sand Springs. Here, television and radio were non-existent technologies during Irene's childhood. Her daily routine consisted of herding sheep, which was a full-time job for a youngster who had to forsake schooling in order to help her family.
Irene's role model is her mother, Glenabah Hardy, who provided the sole family income. "She carded and spun the wool and her skill as a weaver provided food, shoes,
clothing, and things like that." Her childhood observations of her mother's talent and commitment instilled in young Irene a need to create and gave her a sense of family love and care. Proudly, Irene acknowledges all of her five living children, including a son who graduated from Harvard University. She guides her daughter Teresa Clark, daughters-in-law Evelyna and Julie, and sister-in-law Marjorie Hardy in the art of
weaving. Her home is a living tribute to family. With these clear family values, Irene acknowledges, "I learned to weave from my mom...weaving is my life!" Glenabah Hardy, now ninety years old, lives only footsteps away from the Clark home and still continues to weave. Jimmy Clark, Irene's husband, had a successful career working for the Navajo tribe in the Water Resource Division; he is supportive and proud of Irene's many endeavors.
Irene works with very smoothly carded handspun and processed commercial wool. She credits much of her early success and encouragement to the late Bill Young, a
trader at Hubbell Trading Post. As a professional weaver, her signature Crystal style known as "Clark" rugs have been awarded Best of Show and numerous First Prize awards at shows throughout the Southwest. Known for their
vegetal-dyed, brilliant coloring, they are far different from the Crystal rugs of old when trader J. B. Moore (1896-1912) urged weavers to use bold oriental motifs and borders, mostly with gray, red, black, and white in their patterns. Irene uses 3-strand twined braiding (rather than today's seemingly more accepted 2-strands) as side- and end-cords and her weft plane is very controlled and tight.
Of her designs, Irene says, "I work out my own designs in my mind, by counting and rhythmically repeating each pattern. None of my designs have symbolic significance and I don't weave things like Yei'i. You don't mess around with a rug." When asked if she put cornmeal, animal tissue, or feathers into her rug to give it "power" or special meaning, she responded with a resounding, "No. I've never heard of such a thing. We don't do that. Our rugs don't have special power or meaning." One thing is certain: Irene has high regard for the traditional values that accompany her responsibilities as a weaver. Irene Hardy Clark's active, fruitful life as a mother, grandmother, and master weaver has been documented in commercials, instructional videos, books, and periodicals on Navajo life and weaving.
Images: (Top) Portrait by
Mark Nohl
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