Fred Kabotie

Fred Kabotie (–1986) was a celebrated Hopi painter, silversmith, illustrator, potter, author, curator and educator. His native name in the Hopi language is Naqavoy'ma, which translates to Day After Day.

Background and education Fred Kabotie was born into a culturally connected Hopi family at Songo'opavi, Second Mesa, Arizona. His teacher at Toreva Day School spelled his nickname Kabotie, which stuck with him for the rest of his life.

As a child, Kabotie drew images of Hopi katsinam with bits of coal and earth pigments onto rock surfaces near his home. He commenced a long association with local archaeologist Edgar Lee Hewett, joining him at archaeological excavations at Jemez Springs, New Mexico, and Gran Quivira.

Early career and personal life Grand Canyon historic Desert View Watchtower, Fred Kabotie painting interior c. 1932

After his graduation in the 1920s, the Museum of New Mexico hired Kabotie to paint and bind books for a salary of $60 per month. Elizabeth DeHuff hired him to illustrate books. The George Gustav Heye Center in New York City commissioned him to paint a series depicting Hopi ceremonies. He also sold works to private collectors. Kabotie primarily painted with watercolor on paper.

Architect Mary Colter commissioned Kabotie to paint murals in her Desert View Watchtower at the Grand Canyon National Park in 1933. The centerpiece of the wall paintings include a circular motif divided into quadrants depicting the Hopi snake legend. Other paintings in the tower depictions of Muyingwa, the God of Germination; Lalakontu, Women's Secret Society dancers; Pookongahoyas, the Twin War Gods; Baloongahoya, the Little God of Echo, and numerous depictions of celestial phenomena.

In 1937 Oraibi High school opened for Hopi students, and Kabotie taught painting there for 22 years (1937–1959).

He was an advisor at the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco, California, where he worked with curators Frederic Huntington Douglas and Rene d'Harnoncourt on a show of Native American art.

Silversmith work The Museum of Northern Arizona encouraged Kabotie and his cousin Paul Saufkie (1898–1993) to develop a jewelry style unique to Hopi people. They developed an overlay technique, distinct from Zuni and Navajo silversmithing. They created designs inspired by historic Hopi pottery.

Starting in 1947 the Indian Service and GI Bill–funded jewelry classes at the Hopi High School at Oraibi for returning Hopi veterans of World War II. Kabotie taught design and Saufkie taught technique. Each class lasted about eighteen months. The duo created the Hopi Silvercraft Cooperative Guild in 1949 to showcase their students' work. In 1963 the Hopi Guild moved from Oraibi to a newly constructed building at Second Mesa, Arizona, that included a large showroom and workshop space for the artists. Kabotie worked with the Guild in various ways, including serving as president from 1960 until his retirement in 1971. The shop on Second Mesa is rarely used by students today.

Later career Kabotie and his wife represented the US Department of Agriculture at the World Agricultural Fair in New Delhi, India, in 1960. The high school at Hopi closed, so upon his return from India, Kabotie worked with the Indian Arts and Crafts Board.

He had long assisted other tribal members in marketing their artwork. A lifelong dream was accomplished with the founding of the Hopi Cultural Center.

Awards Kabotie received the Guggenheim Fellowship in 1945, which enabled him to study Mimbres pottery and write the book, Designs From the Ancient Mimbreños.

Collections Kabotie's work is included in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, the Museum of Northern Arizona, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, Museum of New Mexico, Gilcrease Museum, the Heard Museum, Great Plains Art Museum, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, the Newark Museum, the Peabody Museum at Harvard University, and the Philbrook Museum of Art.

Published works Kabotie, Fred. Designs from the Ancient Mimbreños With Hopi Interpretation. Flagstaff, AZ: Northland Publishing, 1982. Second Edition. . Kabotie, Fred with Bill Belknap. Fred Kabotie: Hopi Indian Artist. Flagstaff, AZ: Museum of Northern Arizona with Northland Press, 1977. . Kabotie, Fred. Hopi Indian Artist. Museum of Northern Arizona, 1977.