Carved from cottonwood and painted with care, Hopi kachina dolls are gifts from the Katsinam spirits, given mostly to girls and women, and this is the first show to tell their story from that side. Fifty-three dolls trace a Hopi woman's life from a baby's first flat doll to adulthood, beside baskets, jewelry and ceramics. Co-curated by Hopi guest curator Colleen Lucero, it makes a thoughtful visit around Indigenous Peoples' Day.
What to expect
Expect cases of dolls arranged by life stage, alongside finely made baskets, jewelry and ceramics by Hopi women, and interviews with Hopi artists and cultural leaders woven into the story. The installation is in the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art, home of Judy Chicago's The Dinner Party.
Good to know
- Included with general admission
- On the fourth floor, in the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art
- Developed with the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office and Hopi community members
- Take the 2/3 to Eastern Parkway–Brooklyn Museum
- A good pairing with Judy Chicago's The Dinner Party on the same floor
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Common questions
What is a kachina doll?
Called tithu by the Hopi, they represent Katsinam, spirits who bring moisture and keep the world in balance, and are given primarily to girls and women.
Who curated the exhibition?
Guest curator Colleen Lucero of the Hopivewat Learning Center, with Brooklyn Museum curators Nancy Rosoff and Dare Turner.
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