More ...

Left-Handed Katsinas, 1999 (Detail). Aaron Fredericks (Hopi)
Carved and painted cottonwood root.

When I was photographing these Katsina figures, 

I felt as though two pair of dark eyes were watching me 

from behind their masks. It wasn't so much that I found the figures

to be "realistic," but more that the spirits portrayed seemed to have 

merely paused in their work while I walked through the room.

In fact, when I looked around and saw so many 
of the carved figures, I knew I would have to return 
another day, just to explore and to take their pictures. 
And to let the Katsina continue their work.

Left-Handed Katsinas

All of the work shown here is contemporary, done by craftsmen

who have carefully studied the artistic traditions of their ancestors 

in effort to carry on the heritage left to them. They are also seeking to

add to those traditions by exploring new forms and designs. 

This will keep the craft new and avoid their work becoming 

merely stale repetition of past successes. 

Haida Thunderbird Headdress, 1998
Robert Davidson (Haida, born 1946)
Red cedar, shell, and raffia

The two examples below are example of pottery traditions

that have survived because of study and respect for 

traditions and forms of the past, and of the courage to explore 

and develop new forms. Both potters are decendants

of Nampeyo, a Hopi artist who studied ancient potshards 

she found on the Hopi reservation where she lived,

developing her own style based on the traditional designs.

Within her lifetime, she was recognized as one of the

finest Hopi potters.

Seed Pot by Les Namingha
(Hopi-Tewa/Zumi, born 1968

Les Namingha is the grandson of Rachel Namingha Nampeyo,

who was the granddaughter of Nampeyo. The artist learned

his pottery making skills from his aunt, Dextra Quotskuyva,

herself a granddaughter of Nampeyo. Les is known as an innovator, 

always experimenting with new forms and designs.

Seed Pot, detail

Pot, 1990s, by Jacob Koopee (Hopi-Tewa, born 1970)

Jacob Koopee is the son of potters, Jacob Koopee, Sr. (Tiwa)

 and Georgia Dewakuku Koopee (Hopi). Among his teachers 

was his aunt, Dextra Quotskyva and his grandmother, Marie Koopee.

Jacob's great-great-grandmother, Nampeyo, derived much

of her design style from imagery found in the ancient Hopi village

of Sityaki. Much of Koopee's work is based on this design style.

Pot, Detail