Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2009 School for Advanced Research.
Painting
Date: before 1934
Artist or Maker: Bill Loweka
Dimensions:
27.9 x 21.6 cm (11 x 8 1/2 in.)
27.9 x 21.6 cm (11 x 8 1/2 in.)
Medium: paper | paint, watercolor
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.P52
Not on view
Tribal Collection Review RemarksJim Enote and Octavius Seowtewa during collection review visit June 10 and 11, 2009 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 2”): This is a depiction of a Shalako. See below for a description of Shalakos. The Shalako in this painting is missing a feather bundle on the back of his headdress. The feathers in the bundle would be turquoise blue and maroon with blue tips.
Each kiva at Zuni is represented by one Shalako. The Shalakos come once per year, in December, at the time of the winter solstice. Each kiva has its own set of macaw feathers that is worn by their Shalako, and the feather sets are all different from each other, making it possible to identify which kiva each Shalako belongs to. The Shalakos also all wear different necklaces. Their dress is the same in all other respects. They wear three mi’has (ceremonial embroidered robe). One is wrapped around the middle of the Shalako, and the other two around the bottom.
In Collection(s)
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