Basketry & Weavers
Hopi basketmakers are some of the finest artists in this medium in North America. Today, while many Pueblo peoples no longer weave baskets, Hopi women continue a centuries-long tradition of basketry. They are also innovative artists, developing new methods and designs from traditional ones. Red, yellow, and black are the usual colors skillfully arranged to produce katsina, animal, blanket, and geometric designs.
The natural colors of plant materials used to construct the baskets serve as a background for the designs, constrasting with the vivid colors of commercial dyes. The symbolism and tradition in Hopi basketry designs link each unique handmade basket to other parts of Hopi life, past and present. In particular, basketry designs reflect aspects of Hopi religion and agriculture. For the Hopi, just as the basket's fibers are woven together, so are all the pieces of Hopi culture: none is unrelated to another.
Iva Honyestewa
Second Mesa
Shungopavi Village
Basketry/Jewelry
Phone: (928) 734-9361
Cell: (928) 613-0548
P.O. Box 329, Second Mesa, AZ 86043
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Iva is a Sun Clan from Shungopavi Village. She began weaving Sifter baskets in 1997 under the tutelage of Beth Dawahongnewa, a clan cousin. Her baskets are made traditionally, using Yucca Plant; rings are made with Willow branch or three leaf Sumac branch (Suuvi). She is able to weave picture designs, geometric, and unusual pieces; ladle sets, sandals, cradle boards, pedestals, and her most recent creation is a 3-demensional turtle design.
Iva participates in the Annual Heard Museum Show in Phoenix, AZ; Annual Hopi Show, Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff, AZ; and Annual Hopi Tuhisma Show in Kykptsmovi, AZ. She has won numerous awards. Most recent have been Best of Category Sifter baskets, Gallup Indian Ceremonial in Gallup, NM in August 2011, and Honorable Mention at the Hopi Tuhisma Show in Kykotsmovi, AZ in October 2011.
She has been doing jewelry since 1992. Some techniques include traditional Hopi overlay, lapidary work with semi-precious stones, and loss wax casting. She was taught Richard Casuse (Father Navajo), Leonard James Hawk (Yakama), Roy Talahaftewa (Hopi), and Charles Supplee (Hopi).
She has performed demonstrations at East meets West Show in Naples, Florida; Hopi Tuhisma in Kykotsmovi, AZ; and the Hopi Show Northern Arizona Museum in Flagstaff, AZ. She is the owner of Iskasokpu Gallery, Second Mesa, AZ.
Alberta Selina
Second Mesa
Shungopavi Village
Basketry
(928) 734-6695
P.O. Box 726, Second Mesa, AZ 86043
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Reba Ann Lomayestewa
Songoopavi Village
Basket Weaving
Cell: (928) 613-7555
P.O. Box 971, Second Mesa, AZ 86043
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I am Tawawungwa (Sun) clan from the village of Songoopavi, Arizona.
As I was growing up I spend most of my time with my grandparents Adeline Lomayestewa (Basket weaver/Seamstress) and Clarence Lomayestewa (silversmith). My parents are Fernanda and the late Loren Phillips who are both Hopi Silversmiths. I learned to make the Hopi overlay jewelry by watching my parents.
I also learned how to be a seamstress by my grandmother Adeline, as well as spending time with her teaching me how to make coil and sifter baskets, and the daily living teachings as a Hopi women. I am thankful for her teachings and still carry on what she has taught me.
Presently my aunt Iva Honyestewa gave me an opportunity to learn her new creation; the new Hopi basket called the Pootsaya. The Poostaya is a combination of the Hopi coiled basket and the Hopi sifter basket. So far I am the only person she has taught yet. I enjoy learning the purpose of her new creation, the Poostaya and working with Iva Honyestewa.
Askwali.