Fred Kabotie
| Fred Kabotie | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Nawavoy'ma c. 1900 Shongopovi, Arizona, USA |
| Died | February 28, 1986 |
| Nationality | Hopi |
| Education | Santa Fe Indian School, Santa Fe Public High School |
| Known for | Painting, Silversmithing, Illustrating, |
| Awards | Guggenheim Fellowship |
| Patron(s) | Museum of Modern Art, Elizabeth DeHuff, The George Gustav Heye Center, Grand Canyon National Park |
Fred Kabotie (c. 1900–1986) was a celebrated Hopi painter, silversmith, illustrator, potter, author, curator and educator.
Fred Kabotie was born into a highly traditional Hopi family at Songo`opavi, Second Mesa, Arizona. His family founded Hotevilla, which is a community faithful to preserving Hopi traditions that were disappearing. He belonged to the Bluebird Clan, and his father belonged to the Sun Clan. Kabotie's Hopi name was Naaqavo'ma meaning, "The sun coming up day after day." His paternal grandfather gave him the nickname, Qaavotay meaning, "Tomorrow." Kabotie's teacher at Toreva Day School spelled his nickname, "Kabotie" which stuck with him for the rest of his life.
As a child he drew images of Hopi Katsinas with bits of coal and earth pigments onto rock surfaces near his home.
Kabotie wasn't the best student with his spotty attendance at the local day school. He was eventually forced to attend Santa Fe Indian School in Santa Fe, New Mexico where he says, "I was supposed to discard all my Hopi belief, all my Hopi way of life, and become a white man and become a Christian." English was the only language students were allowed to speak. John DeHuff became superintendent of the school and went against the prevailing government policy of suppressing Native cultures. John's wife Elizabeth taught painting to the students at the school. She encouraged her students to embrace their culture within their paintings. Kabotie painted Katsinas because he missed home, and sold his first painting for 50 cents to the school's carpentry teacher.
John DeHuff was demoted and forced to leave the school because of his encouragement of Native cultures. He convinced Kabotie to continue his education at Santa Fe Public High School. During his summer vacations Kabotie worked with artists Velino Shije Herrera (Zia Pueblo) and Alfonso Roybal (San Ildefonso Pueblo) on archaeological excavations for the Museum of New Mexico. Kabotie commenced a long association with local archaeologist Edgar Lee Hewett. He joined him at archaeological excavations at Jemez Springs, New Mexico and Gran Quivira.
...
Wikipedia