Kachinas: Spirit Beings of the Hopi

The Hopi Indians have had Kachinas in their religion for over one thousand years. Over the years many works have been published about the Kachinas. Most of these have discussed them from the white man's interpretation of what the Hopi have told him. This book gives readers the perspective of the Hopis.

The seventy-nine Kachinas depicted in this book were painted by Neil David, Sr., a Hopi-Tewa from First Mesa, in the village of Hano, Arizona. The paintings show both the front and back of each Kachina; that is the entire costume of the Kachina. The descriptions of the Kachinas have come from the mouths of various Hopi. They discuss differences in the Kachinas as they appear on each of the three Southwest mesas where the Hopi make their home. The Kachinas which appear in this book are, in general, rare and unusual Kachinas and will enlighten those who wish to learn about and appreciate the Kachinas, Spirit Beings of the Hopi.

Neil David, Sr. is an accomplished painter, lithographer, artist, and carver of Kachina dolls. He and his family are active in his and his ancestors' home of First Mesa on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona.

J. Brent Ricks, an aficionado and student of the Hopi, resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Alexander E. Anthony, Jr. is director of the Adobe Gallery, Albuquerque, New Mexico.