Opportunity Quilt - “Where creative minds of the Hopi people are expressed through warmth.”
History of the Opportunity Quilt
Linda Visnaw, a well-known fabric artist and friend of the Hopitutuqaiki school, suggested that Hopitutuqaiki offer a creative quilt for fundraising purposes.
Hopitutuqaiki's fundraising opportunity was presented to the Hopi women to design a quilt utilizing their Hopi designs and concepts. The participants used their skills and creativity and were allowed to learn new techniques for creating an art quilt. The women who participated started the first quilt in 2013, and from there, every year, this sparked more creativity from new participants, and each year a new quilt was made.
Raffle tickets are being sold yearly to raise funds for Hopitutuqaiki-sponsored projects. Projects offered to the Hopi community include:
Traditional and contemporary art classes.
Presentations on cultural knowledge.
The Hopitutuqaiki Year-Round Language Immersion Preschool.
All proceeds raised from the ticket sales will support these projects. Winners from past raffles are in the collections of private parties. One winner is drawn each year after 6-7 months of fundraising and promotion.
2025 Opportunity Quilt
Name of Quilt: “Saálakmana” Corn Grinding Girl
Creators: Designer Ramson Lomatewama, Hopi, Kwahwungwa from the village of Hotevilla, and Quilter-Fiber Artist Linda Visnaw, Lake Havasu City, Arizona.
Ramson Lomatewama: “My vision for this quilt came to me many years ago. I look at the world as it is, both the positive and negative. I also believe in the power of song. Those images that are in our songs are in the images of this quilt. It exemplifies the beauty in life that is all around us.”
Linda Visnaw: “In the past 12 years, I have been honored to share my quilting knowledge at the Hopi School, Hopitutuqaiki. In return my wonderful Hopi friends have shared with me their culture, language, traditions, and kindness.
Description: The design is a contemporary interpretation of a Hopi design. The striking, beautiful image holds a deeper meaning of Hopi life, womanhood, and creation. This story explains the human condition. The top represents life at its fullest, a life we strive for. Butterflies represent male and female energy. The bottom tells the story of Hopi's arrival into this world.
“We are reminded of what a good life is and brings us back to reminds us of a life that is possible.” RL.
The quilt is constructed using the stained-glass technique, raw edge applique’, and piecing. A natural abalone shell is used in embellishment; the attached butterflies are 3 dimensional, and the corn is a separate pieced embellishment. The quilt has gallery binding. There is an attached machine-embroidered label with information about the quilters and a computerized label with a description by the artist. The quilt also has a matching sleeve for hanging and a machine-embroidered case.
Members who worked on the quilt
Darlene Ahownewa, Pipwungwa, village of Hotevilla
Janine Bahnimptewa, Pikayaswungwa, village of Hotevilla
Mary Pat Beach, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Wilma Laban, Maswungwa, village of Oraivi
Darlene Nuvamsa, Omaw wungwa (Tewa Cloud), village of Soongopavi
Lorna Quamahongnewa, Pipwungwa, village of Hotevilla
The late Delores Sidney, Kokyangwungwa, village of Mishongnavi
Machine Quilted by
Linda Visnaw of Lake Havasu City, Arizona
Project Coordinator Valarie Harris, Alwungwa, village of Sitsomovi
Techniques used in construction:
Machine piecing, stained glass techniques, and hand finish.
Appraisal Information
Appraisal amount: Being appraised
Appraised by American Quilt Society certified appraiser Joyce Larson of Sierra Vista, Arizona
“This quilt was made as an opportunity quilt to support Hopitutuqaiki, the Hopi School located in Kykotsmovi, Arizona.”
The 2025 opportunity quilt,” Saálakmana,” is dedicated to the memory of our beloved friend Delores Sidney.
