 78th
Annual Hopi Festival of Arts and Culture
Member Preview
July 1, 2011
Public Festival July 2–3,
2011 Festival
Schedule
AN AUTHENTIC
CULTURAL EXPERIENCE
AT THE OLDEST HOPI SHOW IN THE WORLD
Once again, the Oldest Hopi Show in the World will bring artists,
demonstrators, musicians, dancers, and cultural speakers to the Museum
of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff. The 78th Annual Hopi Festival of
Arts and Culture is on Saturday, July 2 and Sunday, July 3, from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m., at the base of the San Francisco Peaks and surrounded
by the world’s largest ponderosa pine forest. An award-winning event,
the Hopi Festival was given a Viola Award by the Flagstaff Cultural
Partners this year.
The first Hopi Festival was held in 1930, on the July Fourth weekend.
This long-standing gathering represents the partnership between the
Hopi people and the Museum, and has always had as its mission the
preservation of Hopi artistic traditions, as well as the creation of a
marketplace for Hopi goods. Over the years the event has become a
regional tradition for artists and collectors, alike, for visitors
seeking an authentic cultural experience.
Heritage Program Manager Anne Doyle says, “An important part of the
festival is the 30-plus awards that are given to artists who excel in
their arts category. Sponsored by businesses and individuals, the
awards are juried by art professionals from the region. At the
festival, award ribbons are on display at the artists’ tables, making
it easy to spot the finest collectable art pieces.”
In addition to the 75 booth artists, Museum staffers have made several
trips to collect one-of-a-kind consigned works from individual artists
across the Hopi Mesas. Collecting trips have always been an important
part of the Hopi festivals, allowing artists who produce only a few
items per year a chance to sell their work. Hundreds of distinctive
art pieces including quilts, rattles, pottery, katsina dolls,
paintings, and baskets will be on display and for sale in the
consignment area.
Museum Director Robert Breunig said, “This year’s Heritage Insight
presentations are about farming, land stewardship, language,
migration—all important parts of today’s Hopi culture and the Hopi
Tribe’s cultural preservation efforts. I hope visitors will enjoy
learning about our neighbors, the Hopi, and the influence of this
ancient people throughout this region.”
Heritage Insight
Presentations
“Hopi Farming” by the Natwani Coalition
The Hopi Reservation is one of the most arid areas of the Southwest,
however, amidst these harsh conditions, the Hopi people have thrived
with terraced gardens of beans, onions, squash, and melons, along with
peach orchards and vast fields of corn, a Hopi staple. On Saturday
only, the Natwani Coalition, a project of the Hopi Foundation, will
give a presentation on Hopi farming and agriculture. Included will be
a history of traditional Hopi agriculture and land stewardship, the
current state of the Hopi food system, and an overview of the Hopi for
Youth Farming Curriculum Project. Natwani means “produce” or
“vegetables,” but more significantly, it refers to the processes and
rituals necessary for the rejuvenation of all life.
“Hopi Migration” by Scholar and Bluebird Clan Member Eric Polingyouma
Polingyouma’s talk will cover the Hopi migration north from Guatemala,
the history of the Hopi Pueblo, and the historical gathering of clans
on the Hopi Mesas, addressing who came to the Hopi Mesas first and who
was accepted into Hopi over time.
“Beenhouwer Fine Art Collection” by MNA’s Acting Curator of
Anthropology Lyle Balenquah
This is a collection of Native American fine art, predominantly from
the Hopi, New Mexico Pueblos, Navajo, Tohono O’odham, and Apache
Tribes. The collection is now owned by the Hopi Tribe and stored at
MNA. Herb and Bernice Beenhouwer began collecting on their travels
throughout the Southwest in 1966. Over three decades, the collection
grew to over 850 items, including works by great Hopi artists such as
Charles Loloma (jewelry), Thomas Polacca Nampeyo (pottery), Jouyce
Saufkie (basketry), Henry Shelton (katsina dolls) are included. In
2009 the Hopi Tribe and MNA received funding from the Institute of
Museum and Library Services to complete a comprehensive inventory and
documentation of the entire collection. The results of this project
will be discussed in this lecture.
Also giving talks will be artist and educator Ramson Lomatewama with
“Hopi 101,” Mesa Media’s President and Founder Anita Poleahla on
“Teaching Hopi Language from a Hopi Perspective,” and potters Dorothy
and Emerson Ami giving a “Hopi Pottery Demonstration.”
Under the Big
Tent
Hopi educator Jennifer Joseph will serve as emcee and cultural
interpreter for the Heritage Insights Tent, sharing her knowledge,
answering questions, and introducing performers. Located next to the
Museum’s Exhibit Building and able to seat over 200 people, the
Heritage Insights Tent will be the festival’s performance center all
day long.
Nuvatukya’ovi means “the high up place with snow” and is the
Hopi name for the San Francisco Peaks. The Nuvatukya’ovi Sinom Dance
Group will perform their Buffalo Dance this year. This dance is
usually performed during the winter to encourage snow, good hunting,
abundance of wildlife, and survival. This dance is performed on the
Hopi Mesas as entertainment and as a reminder that buffalo, antelope,
and deer used to roam in northern Arizona. They will also perform the
Palhikwmana or water maiden dance and the Koshari or
clown dance to unite people and make them happy. All of the dance
troup’s regalia—clothing, weaving, jewelry, and tabletas or
headdresses—is designed and handmade by the dancers.
KUYI, 88.1FM Native American Public Radio from Hotvela ( Hotevilla) on
the mesa tops of northeastern Arizona will be at the festival, talking
to visitors, interviewing festival personalities, and adding their own
fun to the event with their live broadcast.
Artists and
Demonstrators
After enjoying entertainment under the big tent, take a taste of
ages-old traditional Hopi foods—yeasted bread baked in an outside
wood-fired bread oven, and piki, a ceremonial food made from blue
corn.
Alice Dashee, a potter and educator, will talk to visitors about the
role of corn in Hopi culture.
Ruby Chimerica and her daughter Anita Koruh will discuss the nuances
of Hopi basket making. They gather and dye their own materials and
will show how they use them to create plaques.
Potters Dorothy and Emerson Ami create pottery in the traditional Hopi
way, from gathering the clay, to using all natural pigments to paint
them and sheep dung to fire them.
All types of Hopi weaving are done by men. Louis Josytewa will
demonstrate sash weaving. His long, colorful sashes are used as part
of ceremonial clothing.
And glass blower Ramson Lomatewama will be demonstrating how he makes
his glittering, glass spirit figures in front of the Museum with his
portable glass blowing studio.
Creative Corner
Outside in the courtyard, kids and all other creative people will be
able to make take-home crafts. This year, make and learn about the
cultural significance of clay pinch pots, bookmarks with basket
designs, corn maiden wall hangings, and rattles.
Hopi Dancers at
Heritage Square
As a special celebration of this 78th year, the Nuvatukya’ovi Sinom
Dance Group will perform at downtown Flagstaff’s Heritage Square for
free on Saturday, June 25 in the afternoon. Additionally, they will
dance in Flagstaff’s Fourth of July Parade.
About the Hopi
People
The Hopi village of Orayvi is considered the oldest continuously
inhabited settlement in the United States, dating back more than a
millennium. The Hopi have survived in their mesa homeland for
centuries and although their culture is changing, their core values
remain intact and central to their culture.
About the Museum of
Northern Arizona
A modern Hopi kiva mural entitled Journey of the Human Spirit
is permanently installed in MNA’s Kiva Gallery. The mural is inspired
by a brilliant mural painting tradition that flourished in the
Southwest between the fourteenth and seventeenth centuries. Artists
Michael Kabotie and Delbridge Honanie depicted the emergence of the
Hopi people; ancient migrations; the coming of the Spanish and Anglos;
strip mining in Black Mesa; the abuse of fast food, drugs, and drink
by Native people; and finally, the rebirth of Hopi beliefs and
traditions from the Hopi point of view.
Festival and regular Museum admission
is $7 adults, $6 seniors (65+), $5 students, $4 Native people, and $4
children (7–17). Become a member today in time to attend the Hopi
Festival Members’ Preview, Arts Award Ceremony, and Silent Auction on
the Friday evening before the festival. For more information, go to
musnaz.org/support/membership
or call 928/774-5213.
Program Sponsors
Upcoming Heritage
Program Festivals
62nd Annual Navajo Festival of Arts and Culture, August 6–7, 2011
8th Annual Celebraciónes de la Gente, October 29-30, 2011
Home Contact
MNA Contact WebMaster
© Museum of Northern Arizona. All
Rights Reserved. |
