Hopitutuqaiki School celebrates seventh successful year

<i>Rosanda Suetopka Thayer/NHO</i><br>
Lanceford Quotskuya of Hotevilla, age 14, was one of the most successful students in the Hopitutuqaiki’s screen printing class this past year. Quotskuva produced several original works of art that all sold. Quotskuya attended Mary Duwynie’s two-week long screen printing class at the Sonwai Studios at Hotevilla. Duwynie is a full-time art teacher at Hopi High School and considered a master instructor.

<i>Rosanda Suetopka Thayer/NHO</i><br> Lanceford Quotskuya of Hotevilla, age 14, was one of the most successful students in the Hopitutuqaiki’s screen printing class this past year. Quotskuva produced several original works of art that all sold. Quotskuya attended Mary Duwynie’s two-week long screen printing class at the Sonwai Studios at Hotevilla. Duwynie is a full-time art teacher at Hopi High School and considered a master instructor.

HOTEVILLA, Ariz. - Summer art school classes for the Hopitutuqaiki School will begin June 6 and run through July 29. It's not too late to sign up for the huge offering of visual, arts/crafts, traditional Hopi art, photography, glass-blowing, quilting, theater and creative writing classes.

Included this year will be the award-winning low-cost preschool that features Hopi language and arts. The classes follow the Arizona State Early Childhood Standards and are especially designed to offer specialized personal attention to each student.

Hopitutuqaiki's running success is attributable to several factors, including the use of "master" art teachers in both the contemporary art fields and traditional Hopi art work using professional quality art materials and instruction.

Classes include traditional arts such as Hopi yucca (Tutusaya) weaving, Hopi belt weaving and kilt making as well as classes in photography, theater, air brush and acrylic painting. These are just a few of the daily two-week long course offerings that allow one on-one mentorship and intergenerational classes, encouraging artistic dialogue with young pupils and adults.

Classes are purposely kept small to encourage "art bonding" between student and teacher.

These classes are encouraged for all age and ethnic backgrounds, which promotes more cross cultural artistic and academic exchanges that enrich the classroom and the students.

Many of Hopitutuqaiki's students have gone on to produce art work professionally or for Hopi traditional ceremonial use.

The school has garnered much local and national attention to become a prime example in art school development by offering classes with teachers such as Linda Visnaw, a quilter and instructor from Lake Havasu with a special class in "trapunto" quilting; and James McGrath for earth painting, writing and design.

The preschool classes are designed for children ages 3 to 4 and have been very successful. This class fills up fast because of its accelerated Hopi language program for toddlers.

There is a tuition cost for each class, payable the week before the art school starts. Apprentices have the opportunity to work for two-thirds of the tuition cost if arrangements are made ahead of time. It is the policy of the school that no student will be kept out of a class due to cost issues. Several private and public donors have given generously to help with student tuition. Please make arrangements with school administrator Robert Rhodes before classes start as all requests need approval of the Hopitutuqaiki Governing Board.

To see an entire listing of the summer art school offerings, visit www.hopischool.net or call (928) 734-2433. Applications for financial assistance need to be submitted in writing a month before classes start and must be approved by the Hopitutuqaiki Board.

The Hopitutuqaiki Summer arts program is funded in part by the World in Harmony Foundation (Founding benefactor), the Frost Foundation, Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe and dozens of generous individuals. All financial contributions to the art school are greatly appreciated.

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