New Katsinas by Chester Poleyestewa

Thursday, January 25, 2024 5:51 PM

New Katsinas by Chester Poleyestewa

The Katsina Dances on the Hopi Mesas start in winter and continue into July when the Kachina spirits (Katsinam) go to their home until the following year. At Third Mesa, where Chester Poleyestewa is from, the dances begin when the Katsinam arrive on the Mesa in December. At First and Second Mesas, they arrive in February.

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Mary Jane Clark

Monday, April 24, 2023 4:03 PM

Mary Jane Clark

On Friday, April 21, Mom was the first one at the Gallery. She usually has been for the past 40 years. She would unlock the building, get the lights on, fire up the computer, and get the Gallery ready for business.

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It's Native American Heritage Day!

Friday, November 25, 2022 6:22 PM

It's Native American Heritage Day!

Yes, there is a day to recognize and celebrate Native American Heritage. It is the day after Thanksgiving. The month of November is Native American Heritage Month.

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Hopi Ogre Woman Katsina by Ronald Honyouti

Wednesday, September 14, 2022 10:58 AM

Hopi Ogre Woman Katsina by Ronald Honyouti

Hopi Katsinas are physical representatives of Hopi spirits. There are hundreds of these spirits. The Hopi believe they visit the Mesas between January and July to bless the people with good crops, rain, knowledge, health, and more.

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Shalako at Zuni

Monday, December 13, 2021 12:23 PM

Shalako at Zuni

The Shalako Festival at Zuni Pueblo is held at this time of year. It was originally held on the 49th day after the tenth full moon. It has been changed to coincide with a weekend near that time to allow people to return to Zuni to take part.

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The Man Who Started the Practice of Collecting Katsina Dolls

The Kachina are considered to be spiritual beings. The members of the Kachina Societies dress themselves to resemble these beings. The clothing and mask designs have been handed down for centuries.

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Hopi and Zuni Katsina Dolls

Saturday, February 27, 2021 11:22 AM

Hopi and Zuni Katsina Dolls

If you are from the Denver area, and old enough, you might remember a time when the gift shop at the Denver Museum of Natural History had one of the finest selections of Native American Indian arts and crafts in the country. It’s now known as the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

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Hopi Pathmakers

Thursday, August 6, 2020 12:17 PM

Hopi Pathmakers

In 1973, a group of Hopi artists who were part of the Hopi Arts and Crafts Cooperative Guild, formed a separate group called Artist Hopid.

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The Butterfly Maiden: A Source of Renewal for the Hopi

Chester Poleyestewa is a Hopi Katsina (Kachina) Carver. He is one of the last of the traditional carvers working today. What is the difference between a traditional carver and a modern one?

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New Old-Style Katsina Dolls by Chester Poleyestewa

Some years ago, the Hopi Tribal Council decided that the dolls that were called Kachinas should be given their traditional Hopi name of Katsinas.


What I have found is that most carvers still use the term Kachina, and we often do as well. There is no disrespect intended and we try to use whatever the carver prefers. In this writing I will probably go back and forth.

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