Kachinas

Spirit messengers in cottonwood

Kachinas are the spirit beings of the Hopi, and the carved figures traditionally teach and honor them. Carved from a single piece of cottonwood root and painted with detailed regalia, each represents a specific Kachina, from the Eagle to the Mudhead to the Long-Hair. Older "traditional" styles are simpler and flatter; contemporary "sculptural" carvings show intricate action and detail.

The Kachinas collectors ask for

Certain figures return to our gallery again and again. The Sunface (Tawa) Kachina, with its radiating forehead and turquoise-and-coral coloring, honors the sun and is among the most recognized of all carvings. Corn Boy and the other corn Kachinas embody the crop at the center of Hopi life. The Long Hair Kachina (Angak'china), whose flowing hair and beard evoke falling rain, is carved as a gentle bringer of moisture and flowers. Clown figures — the striped Koshari and the Mudhead (Koyemsi) — carry the humor and instruction of the plaza ceremonies.

Collected with respect

The Humiovi has acquired many of its Kachinas directly from carvers since 1977, and presents these works with respect for their cultural and spiritual significance, documenting the Kachina represented and, wherever known, the carver.

Caring for a carving

Cottonwood and natural pigments are sensitive to sunlight and humidity. Display Kachinas out of direct sun, dust with a soft brush, and avoid handling the delicate feathers and regalia so these meaningful works endure.