Select Page

Collections

Collections Menu
Image Not Available

"Mudheads Thanks for Crops"

Image Not Available

"Mudheads Thanks for Crops"

Date: before 1970
Artist or Maker: Percy Sandy (Kai-Sa, Tsisete) (1918 - 1974)
Dimensions:
Overall: 29.3 x 35.7 cm (11 9/16 x 14 1/16 in.)
Medium: paper: heavy weight, wove, white | paint, watercolor
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: SAR.1985-20-33
Not on view
DescriptionTwo koyemshis, wearing black breechcloths and black neckerchiefs and brown leather moccasins, stand beside two stalks of corn growing from soil mounds. Three blue lines along the top margin indicate the sky.
Tribal Collection Review RemarksJim Enote and Octavius Seowtewa during collection review visit Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 2011 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 7”): The catalog description called the figures in the painting Mudheads. This should be changed to Koyemshi, which is the Zuni word for them. The scene shows an event that takes place at Zuni when the crops are mature. People who represent the Koyemshi go to each person’s field and collect some ears of corn and other crops. During this visit to the fields, they also leave cornmeal as a blessing. That is what is taking place in this scene. Though the people who go to the fields for the crop gathering and blessing activity do represent the Koyemshi, they do not dress like Koyemshi, as is shown in this painting.
In Collection(s)
The Indian Arts Research Center, in collaboration with Native American community scholars, strives to present accurate collections records. Records may be updated as new information becomes available and is reviewed with the Native American community having cultural affinity to particular items. Please write to iarc@sarsf.org if you have questions or concerns related to the documentation.