Traces the history of Hopi kachina dolls as an art form, explains the role of Kachina dolls in Hopi culture, and profiles twenty-seven modern kachina doll carvers

This fascinating book provides patterns, respectful background information, and step-by-step instructions for carving and painting the kachina-style dolls Corn Dancer, Poli Sio Hemis, and Crow Mother in the traditional manner. The authors carvings feature the traditional belly-acher pose, bright colors of the 1980s style, and the all-wood approach currently favored by Hopi carvers. The book includes a photo gallery, index of terms, and lists of tools and materials used.

Contemporary Kachina dolls are beautifully illustrated with over 150 color photos. The lives of the carvers who make them are explored in depth. Twenty-five of today's important Kachina carvers have been interviewed for a first-hand glimpse into their work.

Much has been written about the popular kachina dolls carved by the Hopi Indians of northern Arizona, but little has been revealed about the artistry behind them. Now Helga Teiwes describes the development of this art form from early traditional styles to the action-style kachina dolls made popular in galleries throughout the world, and on to the kachina sculptures that have evolved in the last half of the 1980s. Teiwes explains the role of the Katsina spirit in Hopi religion and that of the kachina doll—the carved representation of a Katsina—in the ritual and economic life of the Hopis. In tracing the history of the kachina doll in Hopi culture, she shows how these wooden figures have changed since carvers came to be influenced by their marketability among Anglos and how their carving has been characterized by increasingly refined techniques. Unique to this book are Teiwes's description of the most recent trends in kachina doll carving and her profiles of twenty-seven modern carvers, including such nationally known artists as Alvin James Makya and Cecil Calnimptewa. Enhancing the text are more than one hundred photographs, including twenty-five breathtaking color plates that bring to life the latest examples of this popular art form.

The beautiful diversity of Hopi Kachina dolls is pictorially presented to show past, present, and evolving styles. These carved representations of ceremonial figures taking part in celebrations of the Kachina religion are popular collectibles. This book serves to explain, compare, and present the variety of dolls through color pictures, line drawings, and a concise text.

Here is the essential addition to the collection of anyone who is interested in Kachinas, not only those found on store shelves or in museums, but also those found in Hopi homes. Johnathan Day gives the reader an in-depth look at the differences between contemporary dolls made for collectors and traditional kachinas made for ceremonial use. A rare glimpse into the lives of the carvers, this unique book explains the cultural significance of the kachina and the growing popularity of collecting traditional-style dolls. The ninety color photographs and intimate interviews with the artists will take the reader into an art form that celebrates the cultural depths of the Hopis.

Historical information and descriptions of Indian crafts of different tribes