Spirit of the Hopi Tribe

Kiln-formed and cold worked glass disc.
Displayed on custom made wrought-iron stand.

17″ large, 23″ high, 4″ deep.
Glass disc 16″ diameter.

Limited edition of 15.

SOLD OUT!!

The Hopi Indians are the only Pueblo Indians in Arizona. They occupy twelve villages in northern Arizona, about one hundred miles east of the Grand Canyon and sixty miles north of Winslow. These twelve villages are on and at the top of three Mesas.

The Hopis are very spiritual people. In their prayers, they pray not only for themselves, but also for everyone in the world so that harmony will exist everywhere. It is not accidental that their name, Hopi, means “people of peace”.

They are unique among Native Americans in that they live in the “old ways” more than any other North American tribe. They believe that Kachinas are supernatural beings who live on the San Francisco Peaks, near Flagstaff. As spiritual beings, the Kachinas exert their beneficial influence toward the harmonious growth of the Hopi people and their crops.
During various ceremonies, the Hopi dancers wear distinctive masks and costumes to impersonate the Kachinas. With the placing of the masks on their heads, the impersonators are believed to take on supernatural powers.

The bear represents wisdom, insight, protection and healing. It also embodies self-observation, because every winter, it retires to a cave. Many people also choose the path of silence and solitude to find themselves.

At the center of disc is an interpretation of a traditional Hopi Bear design. It is decorated with a mask of the Sun Kachina as well as various symbol of power like the arrow and the whirlwind. The Sun Kachina, Tawa, is a representation of the spirit of the Sun. She appears with the Early Morning Kachinas, welcoming back the sun as it rises above the horizon. She also appears in several of the winter ceremonies.

Around the border, more Sun Kachina symbols are mixed with bear and bear paws designs interpreted from the famous Hopi overlay silver jewelry.

This piece (and others like it) is available for sale in my 1000 markets shop.

© 2009 – O’Neill Glass Art and Patricia C. O’Neill. Photo credit Lynne Carlton/2C Imagery.