Send in the clowns! Like with many traditions, the Hopi use comedy and satire to teach their most important life lessons. The Koshari have many names-, koyalo,hana, tewa or clown "delight makers" kachina appear during a variety of ceremonies and will engage in all kinds of outrageous and theatrical behaviors. During the Hopi Mesa ceremonies one will find clowns using pantomimes, playing games like leapfrog , striking some rather inappropriate poses and generally acting rowdy and many times gluttonous. A traditional koshari pose is one of the clown eating a watermelon. Hilariously, many clown Kachina will have someone specific in mind from the tribe and may use exaggerated gestures or act out behaviors in a way that would mock that person- providing some form of inside joke for tribe members.
The clowns provide entertainment but serve an even greater purpose than that. Their over-the-top gestures often disturb or mess up some of the most important moments in the ceremony. Their bouncing boisterous behavior serves as a counter-balance and a stark lesson on exactly "how not to behave." Behaving rightly and justly is a recurring lesson that is taught in a few pointed ways during the Hopi solstice ceremonies.
Eugene Hamilton "Deer Foot" has his own modern take on the traditional Koshari. The Koshari is positioned in a victory stance dressed in sporty attire. Instead of holding a watermelon, this guy is proudly posing with a football that reads "Hopi" complete with matching "Hopi" shorts. His goofy toothy grin completes the look making this clown an absolute must for any Kachina doll collection.
Kachina: Koshari, Koyalo, Hano, or Tewa Clown
Artist: Eugene Hamilton "Deer Foot", Hopi, Arizona
Dimensions: 8-1/4 x 2-3/4
