2. Preface
The man we know as Fred Kabotie’s real name is “Nakavoma”,
which means “Day After Day”. Over the period of his life, Fred
“Nakavoma” Kabotie would become one of the best known Hopi
individuals of the 20th century. His influence would carry not only
into various aspects of art, but more importantly, to the Hopi
community. Indeed, few Native individuals represented their people
more holistically.
3. Since Hopis
don’t follow
Early Years He was born in the
small village of
European Shungopavi, located
calendars, in modern day central
Kabotie is Arizona.
unsure of his
actual birthday,
but it’s believed
to be in
February of In his early years, he lived with a family
1900. that took the “hostile” position towards
Euro invasion. This would later shape his
practice in art.
As a child, Fred claims to have been caught
between progressive and traditional Hopi culture; however
as his art develops he sticks to traditionalism.
4. Shipped Off
He was forced to attend school
starting at age seven, but barely ever went.
He staunchly refused to trade his Hopi religion
At just age six, Fred was for Christianity.
removed from his family Before long, Fred was moved again. This time
and marched to a nearby to another school in a different
Hopi village, at Oraibi. state.
5. An Artist is Formed
Fred was sent to Santa Fe around age 10 and was
placed in a boarding school.
The years here were crucial to his artistic
development.
Schooling was no less harsh than Shungopavi, and
he didn’t like it any better, but he was beginning to
develop a knack for art.
Motivated by his Dutch friends/mentors, the De
Huffs, Kabotie developed a soft spot for preserving
Hopi culture in his art.
He sold his first work for a “great price” at just ten
years old.
6. One of the most prominent
themes in all of Fred
Kabotie’s work is realism.
Virtually all of his
paintings are a portrayal of
a past/present Hopi
ceremony.
The reason for this is,
perhaps, due to his early
years when his culture was
nearly stripped from him.
He confessed a turning
point, around 1927, when
he became convinced his
mission in art was to
conserve Hopi culture, and
moreover, make it strong
and vibrant for the current
Hopi population he cared
so much for.
Realism
7. Kabotie as Muralist
Some of Fred Kabotie’s
best known work is in Fred painted
mural form. The picture murals in other
in the backround is,
areas as well: Gift
perhaps, his most
popular. The mural is shops, Resorts,
located in the popular Cultural centers,
“Watchtower” at Grand and Museums all
Canyon National Park. over AZ and NM.
8. Kabotie as Painter
Fred’s early
work was done After a 20 year break from any painting, Fred took a
mostly for job for the Museum of New Mexico. He produced one
patrons, but of his most famous works: “The Pueblo Destruction
collectors Of St. Bartholomew”.
began to
recognize his
talents and his
fan base
broadened. One of his biggest artistic
breakthroughs was an invitation to the
Golden Gate Intl. Expo. After showing
Shortly after, Fred was invited to his work, he was deemed an “important
show his paintings at the Museum of contributor.”
Modern Art in New York in 1941.
9. Kabotie as Silvercrafter
The guild
took off in
1949, after a
journalist
noticed Fred’s
and his
students’
work.
Afterward,
demand for
their work
went global.
Fred’s silvercrafting began in coalition with the Northern Arizona Museum.
He quickly became involved with a small group of other men, and they formed the
first Hopi school for silversmiths. The objective was to employ Hopi WWII veterans,
who would then produce a commodity for the local Native economy.
Lastly, he formed a guild so the workers have steady jobs after graduation and a
platform to produce and sell their work.
10. Fred met his wife, Alice,
in Phoenix, Arizona in
1930—they were
married for over 50 years
and had three children.
When he wasn’t
traveling, Fred and his
family would stay at
home in Shungopavi and
take pleasure in little
things, like planting,
herding, the sun, and
telling stories of Hopi
history.
Personal Life
11. Art Teacher
Fred took his first teaching job at Ft. Wingate in New Mexico.
He then went to teach at the Oraibi village back in his native lands.
Although he has many other side-jobs, Fred remainsed at this position
for over 20 years.
His motivation for teaching was “to spread Hopi culture to young
children.”
12. Jolly Good Fellow
After seeing his work, an admirer of Kabotie’s
recommended him for a Guggenheim
fellowship. Reportedly, she told him he needed
“To be able to work on his art full-time.”
Fred applied in June of 1945, and was selected
as a Guggenheim Fellow. His stipend was
$2000 for the year, and he chose to do his
project on “Designs From the Ancient
Mimbrenos”, which eventually turned into a
one-of-a-kind collectors item.
13. Michael Kabotie (1942-
2009) was Fred’s oldest
son.
After college, he would
carry on the family’s artist
traditions.
His style was different
than his father’s, but
Michael became known
as a prominent Native
artist all the same.
He wasn’t know for
murals, but just like his
dad, he worked with both
silver and paint.
The Next Generation
14. International Art Representative
In the summer of 1959, Fred’s wife, Alice, received a phone
call from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, asking her and
her husband to represent the Hopi people at the World
Agricultural Fair in New Delhi, India.
Supposedly, Alice accepted on the spot, without even asking
Fred, and the two took flight to India.
On the way back, Fred and Alice
Traveled the world for the first
and last time, stopping in Rome,
Paris, Cairo, and Scotland.
Fred was to show his painting and silver work and
Alice was to show Hopi basket weaving.
However, the trip was more so a culmination of all his
success rather than another place to show work. At this
point, Fred was aging and had already accomplished a
great deal. This was simply a cherry on top.
15. Cultural Center Just before learning
of a possible Hopi
Cultural Center,
Fred was offered a
job in Washington
D.C., with the
Indian Arts and
Crafts Board. He
swiftly turned it
down to focus on
the cultural center.
He was responsible for
almost the entire project: he Once the cultural
Although Kabotie drew the plans, he picked
spearheaded the center was all set in
the site, lobbied for financial place, Fred was
operation, the vote of support, and even
the Hopi people was unanimously elected
coordinated the first ever the president, and the
needed for the $250,000 modern well in Hopi lands.
loan. Some were hesitant center opens in 1975.
but the vote passed.
16. The End of an Epoch
When Fred
Kabotie passed
away in, 1986,
His work helped transform
the world lost a
Hopi art from a mere
great artist,
“curiosity” to a respected art
person, and
form.
father.
Aside from putting Hopi art on the map, the work Fred
did for the villages he grew up in was the most
important to him. What he loved more than anything
was to put other Hopis in a better situation to succeed,
and preserve the culture in the process.
17. About Michael Kabotie. N.p., 1 May 2004. Web. 2 Oct.
2011.<http://www.kabotie.com/Pages/aboutmichael.html
Belknap, Bill. Fred Kabotie: Hopi Indian Artist. Vol. 1.
Flagstaff: The Museum of Northern Arizona, 1977. 1-149.
1 vols. Print.
Fred Kabotie." AskArt. N.p., 14 Aug. 2009. Web. 6 Oct.
2011.<http://www.askart.com/askart/k/fred_kabotie/fred_
kabotie.aspx>.
"Fred Kabotie." Wikipedia. N.p., 21 Feb. 2008. Web. 2
Oct. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Kabotie>.
Works Cited
