The Native American Studies Shelf

Codex Taawa: Exploring the Cosmos of the Hopi
Gerald Dawavendewa
Rio Nuevo Publishers
PO Box 5250, Tucson, AZ 85703
www.rionuevo.com
https://www.fourthworlddesign.com/pages/gerald-a-a-dawavendewa
9781940322452, $19.95, HC, 104pp

https://www.amazon.com/Codex-Taawa-Exploring-Cosmos-Hopi/dp/B0B2BN98WW

Synopsis: With the publication of "Codex Taawa: Exploring the Cosmos of the=
Hopi", Native American artist Gerald Dawavendewa presents a series of illu= strations inspired by ancient imagery that explores the cosmos of the Hopi = people. Each piece highlights a part of the Hopi tradition, stories, or kno= wledge. The original artworks reproduced here were black and copper ink on = handmade Nepalese Lhakpa paper and were inspired by the Codices of Mesoamer= icans. For the Hopi, the night sky is an astronomical calendar with all of = its elements used to set ceremonies, rituals, seasons, events, and measures=
of time. The Hopi people have observed and measured the movements in the s=
ky to create a complex guide to assist them with existing in this world, wh= ich we know as Tuuwaqatsi -- the Fourth World.

Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated and with a succinctly infor= mative commentary for the Hopi images portrayed, "Codex Taawa: Exploring th=
e Cosmos of the Hopi" is an inherently fascinating, impressive, and unreser= vedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academ=
ic library Native American Culture collections and supplemental curriculum = studies lists.

Editorial Note: Gerald Dawavendewa (https://artofwhere.com/artists/gerald-d= awavendewa) grew up in the Hopi village of Munqapi, located in the desert o=
f Northern Arizona, and with Cherokee relatives in the deep woods of Oklaho= ma. With little outdoor lighting at Munqapi and none at his Cherokee grandp= arent's home, the night sky was overwhelming, with every space filled with = stars, planets, meteors, the milky way, and the moon. In 1994, in partnersh=
ip with NASA and the University of Arizona, Gerald was honored to be asked =
to create artwork depicting the Hopi cosmos, which was sent into space aboa=
rd the Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-59). Through his artwork, Gerald hopes =
to share his cultures, educate the public about the rich heritage of native=
nations, and promote a greater understanding of the indigenous world.

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