Lauren Honyouti
Kokopelli
13" total
height
Lauren Honyouti is a well
known carver from a family of well known carvers. His brothers
include Ronald and Brian Honyouti, whose works have received
prestigious recognition as well.
Lauren, the middle brother
of the five Honyouti boys, started carving full time in the early
1980's. After returning home from living in the Phoenix area
since high school and working with a local utility company.
He would come home for vacations
and ceremonies and would carve with his youngest brother, Ronald,
watching and learning. Finally after encouragement from family
members and others, he decided to return back home.
Lauren now carves full time
and is involved with family and community ceremonial activities.
His work is seen in galleries throughout the country and does
several shows with the rest of the Honyouti family.
The Kokopelli is a world-renowned
figure who's origin and purpose have been argued by every group
who has ever claimed him. Still the most consistent record lies
in the unadulterated legends of the Hopi culture.
He has been referred to as
a flute player, a rain god, a trickster, a traveler, a musician,
the hump-back, a fertility god, and so on. His appearance suggests
many of these things at different times.
Among the Hopi, he is only
a flute player when he borrows a flute to dance. The hump on
his back is thought to be a satchel full of seeds - for he is
a planter, and with him usually comes life and abundance. The
Springtime is often associated with the Kokopelli because of
the new growth and appearance of flowers.
Legends have recorded the
Kokopelli as a sexual figure who not only brings blessings to
the crops but also leaves the villages full of new mothers. All
in all, he represents fertility. And he has certainly left his
mark, as he can be found in the cultures of South and Central
America, as well as all of the other tribes of the Southwest.
Some have said that the flute
that seems to appear in his hands is actually a planting stick
which he uses to burry the seeds from inside his pack.
