The finest in Hopi art being created today is chronicled in Northland Publishing's new release: "Art of the Hopi: Contemporary Journeys of Ancient Pathways," written by Lois Essary Jacka with photographs by Jerry Jacka. The book includes 158 color photographs that provide a visual feast of Hopi jewelry, basketry, pottery and kachina dolls, as well as paintings stylized with Hopi mythology and ancient tribal subjects.
Welcomed into Hopi homes and ceremonies for over 40 years, the Jackas have earned a rare degree of respect and trust. "It is impossible for any outsider to understand the complexities of Hopi ceremonies or for any individual, even a Hopi, to possess complete knowledge of the Hopi Way," Lois writes in the book. "A veil of secrecy surrounds each kachina society (the ka-china is one of the deified ancestral spirits believed among the Hopi to visit the pueblos at intervals) and clan, and privileged information and responsibilities are passed down through generations to each exclusive group."Lois weaves the Hopi story around her husband's crisp, detailed photography, with efficiency and aplomb. On one occasion she describes standing in a village and watching the kachinas pass by and being transported back in time to an older world; the Hopi tread in two worlds, the traditional Hopi and the western. Yet, Lois writes, they believe that it is essential to maintain balance between this world and the underworld, and the inhabitants of both.
She also details how kachinas embody the spirits of all living things and how all aspects of Hopi life depend upon the kachinas' proper performance. This link between present and past is what makes their contemporary art so intriguing. However, because of this balance and the difficulty of maintaining it, there are some pieces in the book that are almost a parody of themselves. Fortunately these works don't cloud the overall beauty of the publication.
One of the more interesting portions in the book is the renaissance of Sikyatki style Tewa/Hopi pottery and how the skills are once again being passed down from generation to generation.
If there is one weakness in the book, it is the way Jack displays some of the artwork that he photographs. It's like browsing through a department store catalog. It becomes visually monotonous and a bit too "slick" to merge with the sacredness of the Hopi legends. And yet having said that, the overall photographic quality of the book is high.
"Art of the Hopi: Contemporary Journeys of Ancient Pathways" is a fine display book that offers insight and pleasure.