Museum of Northern Arizona Hopi Cultural Festival (photos)

The Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff hosts a series of cultural festivals each summer. Over Memorial Day weekend I thoroughly enjoyed the Zuni Cultural Festival and so I looked forward to the Hopi Cultural Festival this 4th of July weekend.

I attended on Saturday (the member-only opening is on Friday evening) and arrived when the event opened at 9am. Some artists were still setting up. It was an excellent time to be there. I was able to meet the artists and discuss their work with them. I looked over the jam-packed schedule of events and chose the lectures, music and dance events I wished to attend.

My first stop was in the Geology Gallery (artists are spread out all over the museum and courtyards) where I found basket weaver, Dorleen Gashweseoma Lalo. I was drawn to her natural peach basket, an award-winner. Darleen was very happy to explain her art and spend time teaching me about Hopi basket weaving.

Dorleen is from Hotevilla, on 3rd Mesa. She was there with her husband, who did traditional weaving, and her son, Raynard, who carved and painted traditional katsinem. His work was sold for $200 - $350.

I was so glad that Dorleen brought examples of the natural plants she harvested to make her basket. She showed me how she stripped the yucca plant and added that no part of the plant went unused. Yucca root is used for shampoo. Later, in the day, I saw Dorleen spending time with other visitors who were eager to learn about Hopi Basket weaving. Her baskets were for sale and ranged from $85 to many hundreds of dollars. She made them in different styles with different dyes.

I then spent time looking at Hopi jewelry. Much of what I saw was the traditional overlay sterling. But some artists were doing other types of work including chunky inset stonework that I usually see coming from Zuni and Navajo artists. I was drawn to a pair of bracelets by one artist but the $450 price tag reminded me I had to budget more for these shows.

I attended several presentations outside under the tent and came across a singer/musician Ed Kobotie, son of the late Michael Kabotie. Ed played guitar and flute and sang songs in English, Tewa and Hopi. Many of his songs were original and told tales of Pueblo Indian history. I, and many others, loved his music and eagerly snapped up a CD after the performance.

I enjoyed a green chile and cheese wrap for lunch and chatted with other visitors who were enjoying a day in the pinewoods learning about  Hopi culture and art. It is nice to be with like-minded ;people who support what the Museum of Northern Arizona is doing with the cultural festivals.

As I made my last rounds I came upon a young carver from Third Mesa whose traditional carvings had a special something that made me stop and look at them. Perhaps it was the detail or perhaps it was the way he skillfully used feathers. He explained how he painted with natural pigments.
I enjoyed talking with Wayland Namingha, Jr., who, surprisingly, had just started carving two years ago. His father was a carver but he did not take up the craft until he joined a Kiva and was anticipating that he would be needing to carve a katsina for his first daughter. Together with his father and God-father, he learned carving and now makes art katsinas for outside collectors. He even has a website.

Wayland will be at Santa Fe Indian Market (booth 619PLZ). Be sure and stop by if you are there. I think he has a bright future.

Review and Recommendations:
This event had fewer artisans than the Zuni show. I would have liked to have seen more jewelry. However the museum had gone to a great effort to ensure that all crafts were represented. There was a great variety of Hopi arts.

I highly recommend that you spend a day at each of the Museum of Northern Arizona cultural festivals. They are different, and all excellent. You will meet people that you may not see at other venue's such as the large Heard Indian Market, and have the opportunity to learn and speak with the artisans.

I also recommend that you join the Museum of Northern Arizona. You'll have the opportunity to attend the Friday night openings of the cultural festivals and receive mailings from the museum. I think this is a museum worth supporting.

Next Cultural Festival:
The next arts and culture festival will be the Navajo Festival in August. 

Member Preview
August 6, 2010
Public Festival
August 7-8, 2010

More information:
Museum of Northern Arizona Website