Lecture on 'Hopi Art and Stories' October 18, 2009

Ramson Lomatewama, a noted Hopi Indian artist, poet, and educator from Arizona, will speak on “Hopi Art and Stories” at 1 p.m. Sunday, October 18, at the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, 3001 Central St., Evanston.
Lomatewama (pronounced loh-mah-teh-WYE-mah) has published three books of poetry in addition to creating traditional katsina (kachina) dolls, paintings, jewelry and — unusual among American Indian artists — stained glass and blown glass.
Lomatewama is an adjunct professor of humanities this fall at North Central College, Naperville, Ill., where he is teaching courses on Native American culture and art. The college is also hosting a career-retrospective exhibit of his work from October 11 to November 12.
“As Hopis, our main vehicle for communicating is the use of color,” Lomatewama says. “In Hopi culture, different colors symbolize different concepts or ideas.”
He uses traditional materials and techniques in creating katsinas. “I try and make them exactly the way they would have been made several centuries ago,” he says. He carves them from cottonwood root using obsidian stone blades and colors them with natural mineral paints. He even spins his own twine to attach feathers.
His “split twig” silver jewelry, inspired, by ancient objects found in southwestern canyons, is seen in the book “The Beauty of Hopi Jewelry” (Treasure Chest Books, 1999).
Examples of his glass work were included in the 2005 exhibit “Fusing Traditions: Transformations in Glass by Native American Artists” at the Rockwell Museum of Western Art in Corning, N.Y.
His books of poetry include "Silent Winds," "Ascending the Reed," and "Drifting Through Ancestor Dreams."
A Hopi elder, Lomatewama lives in Hotevilla, Ariz., on Third Mesa. He was featured in an episode of Arizona Public Radio’s 2006 documentary series, “Edge of the Rez.”
Admission to the talk is included with museum admission. Admission is $5 for adults, $2.50 for seniors, students, teachers (with valid school ID), and children. Maximum admission per family group is $10. For information, phone (847) 475-1030. On the Net: http://www.mitchellmuseum.org.

Official Website: http://www.mitchellmuseum.org