Southwestern Souvenirs

Regardless of the medium involved, much Indian art possesses a rich vein of humor. The Hopi , like their fellow Indian survivors, have a wry attitude toward their culture and how it interacts with the dominant, mainstream society. As a result, some of their art works celebrate with whimsical, dry, or ironic portrayals, from a small finger ring to a figure carved from a cottonwood root. The katsina exhibition at the Heard abounds in such examples.

An Easter Rabbit effigy in the Hopi Katsina exhibit in the Heard Museum.

Figures which do not represent one of the many and diverse katsina spirits are known as effigies. These can range from comic renditions of neighboring tribes to humorous interpretations of the trickster in animal form. Should you run across an artist selling such wares at one of the Indian arts markets, take a good long look. You will walk away smiling.

Hopi Katsina Dolls: 100 Years of Carving is a remarkable exhibition at the Heard Museum in Phoenix. Katsinas are spiritual deities integral to Hopi belief; they have great powers over nature and must be honored through dances and ceremonies. Hopi children receive small dolls, known as titihu, carved from cottonwood which are forms of visible prayers. Carved katsina figures made for sale to non-Hopi collectors are a big business in the Indian arts world. This exhibition explains how katsinas evolved as a form of collectible art.

Just one display case in the Heard Museum's Katsina exhibit.

Carved dolls from the 1870s to 1950s have an appeal of their own, and fetch high prices. More recently made dolls possess intricate features that enhance their market value. Men comprised the front line of collectors, including individuals as famous as the late Barry Goldwater. His collection is represented in the exhibition, along with items by other notable collectors. Early katsinas were relatively stiff in pose, while modern active figures began to receive market notice by the 1970s. Named artists emerged, and the development of this craft took on more of an artistic movement in direction.

If you want to learn the who, what, and why that goes into Hopi katsinas, this exhibition has an amazingly educational and entertaining tone. Even the exhibition brochure, often a throwaway item these days, should be retained for its valuable information.

The beautiful and informative exhibition brochure.