November is Native American Heritage Month. We recognize and honor indigenous cultures and worldviews that focus on living in harmony with nature as a part of a shared ecosystem. In this post, we bring you a watercolor painting entitled "Butterfly Dance" by Fred Kabotie (c. 1900–1986) who was a celebrated Hopi painter, silversmith, illustrator, potter, author, curator and educator.
The Hopi Butterfly Dance takes place in late summer to early fall in northern Arizona’s Hopi villages. It is a two-day ceremony for the harvest, calling for rain, good health, and long life for all living things. The dance is performed by young and unmarried girls, a ritual to learn what it means to be a young Hopi woman and her purpose within Hopi culture. On the day of the ceremony, the dancer wears a kopatsoki (headdress) and ceremonial clothing with her feet painted yellow, symbolizing the eagle’s yellow feet, so that she can dance lightly throughout the day. (You can learn more about Butterfly Dance in the essay written by Gloria Lomahaftewa on the National Museum of the American Indian’s website.)
Butterfly dance Kabotie, Fred, Native American painter, 1900-1986 [artist] Watercolor on paper 14 x 21 3/4" Native American, Hopi ca.1928 Repository: School for Advanced Research, Santa Fe, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States HOLLIS number: 8001696092
This image is part of FAL’s Digital Images and Slides Collection (DISC), a collection of images digitized from secondary sources for use in teaching and learning. FAL does not own the original artworks represented in this collection, but you can find more information at HOLLIS Images.
