Leonard Selestewa
Kokopelli
Mana
9" total
height
with 3 1/4"
base
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. (no pun intended!)
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.
As his female counterpart,
"Kokopell Mana is one of the few female racers, this mana
portrays the erotic female counterpart of Kokopelli, the Humpbacked
Flute Player. She will induce someone to run against "her"
and then hoist her skirts and overtake him.
She flings him to the ground
and immitates copulation with him to the unbridled amusement
of the audience and the complete discomfiture of the loser."
- Barton Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi
Artist's Documentary (231)
Leonard is a traditional Hopi
farmer from the village of Moenkopi on the western border of
the reservation, near Tuba City, Arizona. He is also a water-rights
activist but manages to find time for his carvings when he is
not busy.