87. Citoto Katsina
  • Hopi artist
  • About 1932
  • Carved wood with pigment, feather, and string
  • Evans Fund, 1932.277

This sculpture is a small-scale replica of the live dancers who perform during ceremonies. Carved from cottonwood root, it features bright, bold colors and simple lines. This type of figure is used to teach children about various katsina spirits. The colors and symbols used by Hopi artists in the creation of katsinam help bridge the material and spiritual worlds. For Hopi artists, carving katsinam is a way to connect the past with the present.