Hopi Potters In NYC

Hopi Potters In NYC: 

In 2023, The Mellon Foundation sponsored a powerful cultural research and education project titled “(Re)Connections Through Time: Developing a model for multi-modal storytelling about Indigenous communities and their collections.” The project, led by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, brought together five Hopi potters (Karen Charley, Emmaline Naha, Valerie Kahe, Larson Goldtooth, and Darlene James), with project leader (Carrie Heitman) and two consultants (Lea McChesney, and Worthy Martin), for two transformative trips to the AMNH anthropological collections. The initiative aims to foster a reconnection between Hopi descendant community members and the ancestral collections housed at AMNH, while simultaneously creating two educational films to illuminate cultural narratives spanning generations.

Figure 2: Potters in AMNH ethnographic storage.
Photograph by Carrie Heitman

During their initial visit from June 12-16, 2023, the potters studied dozens of historic pieces of pottery and tools from the Hopi ethnographic and archeological collection. As this was their first time viewing these remarkable and well-known pieces in person, the potters shared how they experienced several profound moments of connection to their Hopi heritage as they held these pieces and discussed the paints, designs, techniques, and vessel forms that went into their creation. This first trip to AMNH’s Southwestern pottery collection was instrumental in identifying the specific themes and selections of ceramics for the potters to return to on their second visit for deeper discussion and filming.

Figure 3.1: Potters, project consultants, and AMNH staff examining Southwestern pottery.
Photographs by Carrie Heitman and Lea McChesney

Figure 3.2: Potters, project consultants, and AMNH staff examining Southwestern pottery.
Photographs by Carrie Heitman and Lea McChesney

On their second trip to AMNH, September 12-15, 2023, the potters were joined by a small crew from Skyship Films (led by Daniel Byers) who documented their knowledge and interpretations of the pottery selection from the first visit. Discussion topics for filming included pottery-making tools, stew bowls, canteens, design motifs, Hopi terms for forms and tools, artistic traditions, historic Hopi pottery (such as pieces made by Nampeyo of Hano), and ancient pottery (such as selections from Chaco Canyon and Hopi Reservation sites). This collaborative filming effort will produce two short documentaries – one for the general public in English and one for the Hopi community in Hopi – to highlight the continuity of pottery-making, traditional knowledge, and cultural connections across time. The public film will be released by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the AMNH in late 2024.

Figure 4: Potters begin filming for documentary.
Photograph by Karina Ceron

Figure 5: Pot sherds.
Photograph by Carrie Heitman

Figure 6:
Photograph by Carrie Heitman

Both visits proved to be immensely productive and highly emotional for all participants involved. This project has not only deepened AMNH’s understandings of ancestral artifacts and cultural practices but will also facilitate meaningful dialogues and shared narratives between the Hopi community and the broader public through the powerful medium of film. 

Figure 7: Left to right: Karina Ceron, Anna Semon, Carrie Heitman, Valerie Kahe, Larson Goldtooth, Darlene James, Leo McChesney, Emmaline Naha, Karen Charley, and Worthy Martin.
Photograph by Kathryn Sabella.