Color photos of twenty Hopi kachina dolls are accompanied by explanations of their symbolism and spiritual significance, along with an introduction providing historical background.
"Hopi Katsina carvings have long fascinated diverse audiences due to their spiritual meaning, their colorful artistry, and their connection to Hopi Indian culture. This book reviews the evolution of katsinam from 1880 to the present. The emphasis is on the life stories of the carvers in relation to their katsina art. The book begins with work from the 1880s, which is anonymous. By the 1920s and 30s, certain artists, such as Wilson Tawaquaptewa and Otto Pentewa, developed such distinctive styles that their work became easily identifiable. Their fascinating life stories are told with details provided by surviving relatives. In the 1940s, Jimmie Kewanwytewa began signing his work, which set a precedent most others have since followed. His biography, and those of his contemporaries, are reviewed with examples of their seminal work provided. The katsina carving tradition is very much alive today. This book features many of the finest living carvers. Some work in a very time-honored traditional style; others are innovators, moving in strikingly new directions. All of these katsina artists shared their autobiographies with Barry Walsh; they had full control over what was published. Dr. Walsh's daughter, Anna, a professional photographer and videographer, took the majority of the more than 150 photographs in the book"--
Traces the history of Hopi kachina dolls as an art form, explains the role of Kachina dolls in Hopi culture, and profiles twenty-seven modern kachina doll carvers
"... describes and depicts more than seventy of the most prominent and intriguing katsinam who appear during the Hopi ceremonial year, with full color photographs of both contemporary and historic katsina dolls."-back cover.
The Hopi Indian's rich culture and exciting religious ceremonies continue to thrive. However, outsiders have limited opportunity to witness the exciting Katsina dances and ceremonies of the Hopi, save through the well-known and much prized kachina dolls the Katsina spiritually inform. Presenting work from a select set of recognizable Hopi artists, this book relates the detailed history and culture of the Hopis in tandem with their creative efforts to showcase that framework: from remarkable paintings to the kachina sculptures and dolls that manifest as physical representations of the Katsinam, the Hopis' spiritual beings. These pieces complement the Pecina's studious and informative narrative of chronological vignettes and text based on a careful selection of events in Hopi history, oral teachings of great cultural significance, and legends of the Katsinam. Hopi Kachinas presents a clear and meticulous portrait of the Hopis beliefs, history, legends, their Katsina celebrations, and the personas of the Katsinam. This book illuminates the stage of study for scholars, and is vital for students of the Hopi culture.
A series of meditations from the renowned gardening writer on her backyard desert Southwest garden offers readers sixteen essays on nature, wildlife, and the meaning of life. By the author of A Sense of Place.
In 1975 The Heard Museum published a catalogue of the Barry Goldwater collection of Hopi kachina dolls. The catalog is no longer in print, but the Museum's collection is hereby made accessible in print once again. Beautiful color photographs of 200 kachina dolls are combined with sensitive commentary by a Hopi author. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR