CreatorCharles LolomaPhotographerCraig SmithBrowse TopicArt and Creative WorksNative AmericansSubjectHopiLoloma, CharlesDescriptionMural, tempera on muslin, 5' 9 1/2" x 15' 7". This is believed to be the only surviving mural by famed jeweler Charles Loloma, and thus it is an important historical work of art by this significant artist. Loloma depicted the Hopi buffalo dance, a ceremony held annually in January to pray for moisture and good hunting. At some point in its history, the mural is said to have been removed from the wall of a school at Hopi and cut into four pieces. When the Heard was given the work, conservator Gloria Giffords began the restoration process. After working with the painting for months, Giffords commented, "The size of the painting is impressive. These are life-size figures, and I have looked carefully and cannot find a pencil mark. I don't know if he did it from scratch or did a drawing and cut it out and laid it down and went around it with paint. This is a confidently done piece." Even though he was creating a large piece, Loloma's impressive attention to detail is evident in theDate Original1940~Date Range1940s (1940-1949)TypeStill ImageOriginal FormatPaintings (visual works)Contributing InstitutionHeard MuseumCollectionSelections from the Masterworks Arts and Artists SeriesRights StatementCopyright is held by the artist, their heirs, assignees, or legatees and the Heard Museum, Phoenix, Arizona. Image is low resolution and not suitable for reproduction. High resolution image is available with approved Request for Reproductions Application: http://heard.org/pdfs/RequestForReproductionPermission.pdf