June 16, 2011
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.
2011 Hopi Festival Supporters
The 2011 Hopi Festival is sponsored by the Arizona Commission on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Arizona Humanities Council, Flagstaff Cultural Partners, City of Flagstaff/BBB Revenues, Coconino County Board of Supervisors, Fred Nackard Wholesale Beverage Company, and Simply Delicious.
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.
Now celebrating its 83rd year, the Museum of Northern Arizona has a long and illustrious history and evokes the very spirit of the Colorado Plateau. It serves as the gateway to understanding this region, with nine exhibit galleries revealing Native cultures, artistic traditions, and natural sciences. MNA’s four Heritage Program festivals highlight the region’s cultures and encourage communication and the exchange of ideas between visitors, educators, and artists. More information about MNA is at musnaz.org. Information is also available by phone at 928.774.5213.
The Museum of Northern Arizona is located three miles north of downtown Flagstaff on Highway 180, on the way to the Grand Canyon. The Hopi Festival is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, during regular Museum hours. 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.