Jun 22, 2020 · Koshare is a sacred clown of the Hopi, one that you’re likely to see at Katsina ceremonies. He is one of several clowns, which are sometimes called jesters or tricksters. He is a powerful figure and important to the community. A popular image of the clown is a man that has painted himself with wide horizontal stripes of black and white.

The Hopi have four groups of clowns, some of which are sacred. Adding to the difficulty in identifying and classifying these groups, there are a number of kachinas whose actions are identified as clown antics. Barton Wright's Clowns of the Hopi identifies, classifies, and illustrates the extensive array of clown personages. [13]

Ceramic sacred clown by Kathleen Wall Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico. The Pueblo clowns (sometimes called sacred clowns) are jesters or tricksters in the Pueblo religion. It is a generic term, as there are a number of these figures in the ritual practice of the Pueblo people.

What do you call the Hopi dancers dressed up like someone in black and white prison stripes, who makes fun of themselves and the audience? They are known as the Clown Kachinas. The people call the Clown Kachinas Koshari, Koyala, Hano, or Tewa on the three Hopi Mesas. The clowns provide amusement during Kachina ceremonies.

Clown – Called Tsuku, they run races with the Wawarus Kachina and are the butt of much humor with the Piptuka. They are severely chastised by the Warrior Kachinas and the Owl Kachina for their misbehavior.

These Kachinas sometimes have bows or yucca whips. They are known as the Wuyak-kuita, Angwus ( Crow Man), or the Wupamo. On the other hand, clown kachina dolls are carved to represent the individuals who provide comic relief during the Hopi dance ceremonies. The Runners are another set of people who are imitated as dolls.

Clarence Cleveland is in his early 60's and was married to Sadie Laban (Hopi) - as a Navajo he would not traditionally carve kachina figures, but was given special permission through his marriage by the clan which allowed him to carve clowns only. …

Hopi katsina figures or Hopi kachina dolls (also spelled Hopi katsina figures or Hopi katsina dolls; Hopi: tithu or katsintithu) are figures carved, typically from cottonwood root, by Hopi people to instruct young girls and new brides about kachinas or katsinam, the immortal beings that bring rain, control other aspects of the natural world and ...

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Nov 27, 2017 · See how some of our artists at Kachina House have depicted Hopi clown culture in their artwork today! Clowning societies helped sculpt the foundations of Hopi ceremony and ritual. Read how here.