Michael Kabotie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Kabotie
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Katobie as artist in residence at Petrified Forest National Park, 2006
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Michael Kabotie
September 3, 1942 Shongopovi, Arizona, US
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| Died | October 23, 2009 (aged 67) |
| Nationality | Hopi |
| Other names | Lomawywesa |
| Known for | Silversmithing, painting, sculpture, poetry, printmaking |
Michael Kabotie, also known by his Hopi name Lomawywesa (born September 3, 1942 – died October 23, 2009), was a talented Hopi artist. He was known for many things, including making beautiful silver jewelry, painting, sculpting, and writing poetry. His art often featured designs inspired by ancient rock carvings called petroglyphs and geometric shapes.
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Early Life and Artistic Beginnings
Michael Kabotie was born on September 3, 1942, in Shongopovi, Arizona. His mother, Alice Talayaonema, was a traditional Hopi basket weaver. His father, Fred Kabotie, was also a famous Hopi artist.
Michael grew up in his village. When his local high school closed, he moved to Lawrence, Kansas, and graduated from Haskell Indian School in 1961. During high school, he spent a summer at the Southwest Indian Art Project at the University of Arizona. There, he met other artists like Fritz Scholder and Helen Hardin. Joe Hererra became a close friend and an important art teacher for him.
In 1967, Michael was initiated into the Hopi Wuwutsim Society. During this special ceremony, he received his Hopi name, Lomawywesa, which means "Walking in Harmony." He used this name to sign his paintings and mark his jewelry.
Michael learned how to work with silver from his father, who helped create many of the special techniques used in Hopi silverwork today. He started painting after high school and had his first art show at the Heard Museum in 1966.
Michael Kabotie's Art Journey
Lomawywesa created art for nearly 50 years. In the early 1970s, he helped start a group called Artist Hopid. This group, which included painters like Neil David Sr., wanted to create new ways of showing traditional Hopi art.
After that, Lomawywesa continued to paint, make jewelry, write, and give talks across the country. His paintings and silverwork often looked like artistic graffiti, full of movement and symbols. He used many bright colors in his paintings. His silverwork had a similar feel, but with added depth.
Art Inspired by Hopi Culture
In his paintings, Lomawywesa mixed traditional Hopi art from kiva murals (underground ceremonial rooms) with figures from Hopi stories. He also used patterns found in Pueblo Native baskets and embroidery, along with modern design ideas.
Unlike his father, who showed ceremonies in a traditional way, Lomawywesa wanted to show the feeling, movement, and spirit of these ceremonies. He was especially interested in the Tricksters and Clowns of Hopi history. He believed they were important because they helped bring harmony by showing human mistakes and flaws.
Beyond Hopi Traditions
Lomawywesa also found inspiration in music from many different cultures, not just traditional Hopi songs. He listened to Gregorian chants, Peruvian music, Celtic music, and even classical composers like Beethoven. He also enjoyed bands like The Doors. He felt this music helped him "search deep within for the inner spirit."
He also saw connections between Hopi traditions and other spiritual paths like Buddhism and Hinduism. He felt they were similar to the Hopi process of finding one's inner spirit. Lomawywesa said that "finding the middle way is the essence of all spiritual movements and the essence of my art." This idea guided his search for harmony and self-discovery.
A Unique Artistic Style
Lomawywesa's art, especially with the Artist Hopid group, has been compared to famous European art styles like cubism and expressionism, used by artists like Pablo Picasso and Vasily Kandinsky. However, Lomawywesa didn't know about these art movements until later. He explained that he and Artist Hopid were inspired by early Puebloan painters. They simply showed the same themes of dance and song in a more abstract way, focusing on the movement within Hopi ceremonies.
Lomawywesa gave lectures in America, New Zealand, Germany, and Switzerland. His artwork is displayed in many museums, including the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, and the Museum of Mankind in London. He was chosen as the Signature Artist for the 2010 Heard Museum Indian Fair and Market. He also worked as a consultant for the Native American Arts Festival at Idyllwild Art's campus for nine years.
Jewelry and Silversmithing
Lomawywesa learned the silver overlay technique from his father and another artist named Wallie Sekayumptewa. He didn't focus much on silverwork until the late 1970s.
His technique involved layering two pieces of silver. He would cut a design into the top layer. Then, he would darken the bottom layer to create a background that made the design stand out. His jewelry designs were similar to his paintings, deeply rooted in Hopi culture.
He showed his jewelry every year at the Santa Fe Indian Market from 1982 to 1999. Even though he was best known as a painter, he considered making jewelry his main job. He once told a reporter, "Jewelry is my job. Art and painting is my journey."
Lomawywesa taught Hopi silversmithing for 26 years at Idyllwild Arts in California. He used his skills to design the front gate for the Heard's Berlin Gallery and for the Museum of Northern Arizona.
Legacy and Remembrance
Michael Kabotie, or Lomawywesa, passed away on October 23, 2009, in Flagstaff, Arizona, due to complications from the H1N1 swine flu.
The Museum of Northern Arizona honored him with an exhibit called "Walking in Harmony: The Life and Work of Lomawywesa Michael Kabotie." This exhibit showed his art, celebrated his family, and highlighted his connection to the Hopi community. Idyllwild also held a tribute for him on July 11, 2010, celebrating him as "an artist, teacher, philosopher, trickster, mythic archaeologist, and friend."
Lomawywesa's son, Ed Kabotie, continues his family's artistic legacy as a pottery and ceramics artist and a musician.
See also
- List of Native American artists
- Native American jewelry
- Visual arts by indigenous peoples of the Americas
