Supernatural Sculptures:

Figurative Sculpture

Name: Date: Per:

relates to the miraculous, divine powers that seem to go beyond the natural world

Supernatural:

Our ‘supernatural’ inspiration…

•Native American Indian tribe

•Live on ‘mesas’ near San Francisco, CA & in parts of Arizona

The Hopi: (Peaceful People)

•The Hopi’s major concern is RAIN.

•‘Kachina spirits’ help them bring rain for 6 months before a new growing season.

•Rain dance ceremonies are held often during this time

•In July the spirits ‘go back into the mountains to rest.’

•There are over 200 Hopi Kachina spirits

•Each have a different role or job to play in this culture.

•People often dress up as the Kachinas for ceremonies

•The Kachina dolls represent these spirits.

Art that features traditional styles, subjects and materials of a culture handed down for generations.

Hano Mana appears in the Bean Dance on Second Mesa and in the Water Serpent Ceremony on First Mesa.  She holds spruce and corn in each hand

Folk Art

Embellish• To make (something) more

attractive by the addition of decorative details or features

Embellishment gone wrong!

repeating elements to

increase surface texture

A very deceptive and unclear Kachina.  Sometimes she is the maid who grinds corn.  Sometimes she is not considered to be a Kachina at all.  While beautiful, the Butterfly Kachina Maiden does not appear to be a major Kachina figure

Pattern

A central design in a pattern

Motif

movement of the body that emphasizes an idea or attitude

The Mocking Kachina makes fun of everyone when it appears at the Mixed Kachina Dance.  He mocks the actions of anyone who passes within his view.

Gesture

the inside support system of a structure

Armature

a glue mixture that uses newspaper, wheat paste (flour) and water

Papier Mache

Plaster Wrap

• Fabric that has been infused with plaster

Base• The lowest and supporting

part of a sculpture

More examples of Kachina dolls…

A beautiful figure, Na-ngasohu appears in the Bean Dance Procession and carries a bell in his right hand.  He wears a large eagle plume fan behind his head

Chakwiana represents Esteban the Moor who led the search for the Seven Cities of Cibola.  Supposedly Chakwiana was killed at Zuni.  Chakwiana is found in many pueblos along the Rio Grand.  The story is that this beloved Kachina is her own grandmother.

Little is known about Makto.  The doll is derived from an old mask found at First Mesa

The beautiful Eagle Kachina sometimes appears at night ceremonies in March along with the Mud Heads. The dancer imitates the motion and the cry of an eagle to perfection.

Rising seven or eight feet above the plaza floor, these dancers are truly awe inspiring.  She is the sister of Salako Taka, her brother, and they always appear together. 

A really unpleasant Kachina, he is the dung-feeding Kachina.  The loser in a race may have his mouth stuffed with a ball of dry dung, or have his face smeared with it by this Kwitanonoa.

Student Samples

What’s Next?• Use the ideas & styles behind the ‘Kachina’ spirit

dolls to create your own supernatural being. It should represent YOU if you were a spirit or supernatural being

• Brainstorm ideas & sketch out designs (wkst to follow)

• GESTURE DRAWING 101 (2 days)• Wire ‘armature’ and be covered in papier

mache/plaster wrap.• Dress, decorate and paint your supernatural

sculptures to depict your ideas• Start bringing in your own materials to

supplement what will be provided for you

Summary: