Paint the Wind

by Alberta Pierson Hannum, Beatien Yazz (Illustrator)

The Navajo Boy Artist of "Spin a Silver Dollar" Returns from the Outside World to Join His People in Transition.

206 pages, Hardcover

First published October 6, 1958

About the author

Born in 1906.
Died in 1985.

Reviews

[Michael McCue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paint the Wind continues the story of the Navaho painter Beatien Yass and his friends at the Wide Ruins Trading Post on the Navaho Reservation. Beatien Yass also known as Jimmy Toddy joined the United States Marines by lying about his age when he was just fifteen. He was preparing to join the Navaho Code Talkers when the Second World War ended and was sent to China instead. When it was discovered that he was still not old enough he was sent home. Back at Wide Ruins he resumed he painting and his sponsors the Lippencotts arranged for him to meet other artists and even travel to Chicago where he learned etching. Paint the Wind tells about his growth as an artist and the life around the trading post. I found this little book immensely enjoyable. There are color plates at the beginning of the book with copies of seven of his paintings.