Louise Casselman

Artist's Statement
The doll you hold in your hand is based on the kachina tradition, but it is like none other in the world. It is one-of-a-kind and will never be duplicated. In the Hopi Indian culture, the kachina or "life bringer" was used in religious ceremonies to educate children in the ways of life, reminding them of their connection to the spirit world. To the Hopis, there were hundreds of kachinas, representing anything from an element, to a quality, to a natural phenomenon, to a concept.

Louise Casselman, award-winning graphic designer and artist, has given the kachina doll a new expression. Out of respect for the kachina tradition, she has dressed her dolls to reflect no particular tribe or culture. Instead, her collection, entitled Other People's Ancestors, reflects a rich variety of materials, clay, wood, stone, metal, fur and textiles collected on her travels around the world.

The common element in each doll is the depiction of hair, representing thoughts and dreams embodied in each creation. Each face has a unique expression and each doll becomes a spirit on its own with a distinct personality. All embody the aesthetic of finding beauty in texture, color and pattern which are the inspiration for Other People's Ancestors. Every work has become part of a growing family to the artist. Please enjoy them; perhaps one will speak to you.

Louise Casselman's works are in collections in San Francisco, Sante Fe, Washington, and New York City. Louise has a BA in fine arts from Stanford University and an MFA from Yale University.