Kachina - Hopi Kokopelli by Michael Sockyma, CKTHR20-01

Title: Kokopelli

Culture: Hopi

Maker: Micheal Sockyma

Date:

Materials: wood, yarn, coton, feathers

Signed?: Yes

This katsina’s image is found throughout the southwest, as well as in Mexico and

South America. He typically appears in Mixed Katsina and Night Dances. For the

Hopi, Kokopelli is only a flute player when he borrows one (Wright, Hopi

Kachinas: The Complete Guide to Collecting Kachina Dolls, 120). Otherwise,

“...he is thought of as a seducer of girls, a bringer of babies, a tutelary of

hunting...” (Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi artist’s documentary, 109).

Michael Sockyma, Sr. also known as Josh-du-du-ka - Singing Bluebird, and

Mong-eu-ma, Young Corn, has been carving since the 1960s. In addition to

holding carving demonstrations for the Barton Arts Council (2004), and the

Museum of Northern Arizona (2005), Sockyma’s work has been exhibited in

Indian Market (Santa Fe), Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial, Scottsdale Nationals,

and the Museum of Man (San Diego), among others. His work has also been

featured in Spirit Bear Gift Shop (Kykotsmovi, AZ), as well as Kokopelli (Tokyo,

Japan) (Schaff, 291).