Paula Baxter’s Blog
Katsinas at the Heard Museum
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.
Tags: Barry Goldwater, kachinas, katsinas
August 2nd, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Beautiful! So important to have accessible education about Native American culture, especially in the southwest with so many different cultures and artifacts.