Christmas Enters the Kiva
Mary Lucero
Santana Seonia
Edwina Tortalita
Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico
There are three sets in this setting. To the left is Mary Lucero’s sophisticated Pueblo nativity. The artist painted her little figures with an uncustomary abundance of details; even the turquoise necklaces are not forgotten. Structure and choice of color give this set a delicate beauty contrasting with Edwina Tortalita’s more statuesque and stately figures (right).
The central of the three sets from Jemez Pueblo is centered on the Kiva, the house of prayer with traditional Indian religion. Kivas are surrounded with mystery and great respect. A ladder leads into the kiva. A second ladder stands out from the circular building and reaches into the sky. The vertical poles are of uneven length. They symbolize the two principal directions of human life: earth (the shorter pole) and sky (the longer pole) or material and spiritual values. Santana Seonia’s nativity suggests that Christmas has entered the Kiva, and thus points to a possible convergence between the old and new religion.
