Barton County (Kansas) Arts Council

Theodora Homewytewa and Michael Sockyma will share their traditional Hopi talents and traditions when they visit Great Bend in December. The husband and wife are from Kykotsmovi, AZ and they will be in Great Bend at the Medicine Bear Trading Co, 1704 K-95 Highway and the Barton Arts Council, 1401 Main Street.

Homewytewa is a medicine woman and a member of the bear clan. Her clan is proud of its long line of medicine people and the teas and other herbal recipes she uses in her work have been handed down through generations of healers in her clan. Homewytewa believes she was born with her abilities and has been a practicing medicine woman for over 30 years. She will speak at the Medicine Bear on December 12th at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. She will also be available for private consultation by appointment.

Michael Sockyma is a Hopi silversmith and a member of the corn clan. Sockyma began as an artist drawing designs for Hopi silversmiths to use on their jewelry. Eventually, these older artisans taught him the art of silversmithing and he has been producing beautiful, traditional sterling silver jewelry for 40 years. Sockyma has been honored as a first prize winner of the prestigious juried show at the Santa Fe All Indian Market. He will be demonstrating his skills at the Medicine Bear on December 12th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. On Saturday, December 11, he will give a talk about the Hopi culture and demonstrate jewelry making at the Barton Arts Council, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

For more information contact Barton Arts Council at (620)792 -4221.