Arizona republican., 1921-07-03
Emry kopta, Arizona Sculptor, Is
 To Return To Hopi Land Where He
 Will Resume Work Among Indians

Emry Kopta, Arizona's foremost sculptor. who for seven years has lived among the Hopi Indians and who is the greatest authority in the West in matters concerning this strange pagan tribe whose customs and religious ceremonies attract an- nually thousands of people to this part of the Southwest, will return the end of this week to his beloved Hopi- land. where he will devote himself to his art during the summer months.
 Kopta has been living in Phoenix since last October, during which period he has been engaged in the initiation and completion of several sculptures for friends in this city. One of these has been a life-s sized bust of John B. Brown. superinten- dent of the Phoenix Indian school. This has been completed in plaster. Another portrait has been that of Gov. Thomas E. Campbell, which is to be used as basis for life sized model which Kopta~ will complete in Hopiland. His association with the governor during the sittings neces- sary for the bust have been among the most pleasant incidents of his visit to Phoenix. Kopta said yester day, and have resulted in a firm friendship between the states ex- ecutive and the artist.
 Another labor-this time labor of love-which has engaged the time of the sculptor here has been the mod cling of a bas-relfef tablet commemo- rative of the Indians from the local Indian school who gave their lives in the great war. Lee Rainbow. who was the first Arizonian killed in ac- ton. and Wallace Antone. who was also killed in battle. are the two whose deaths have given occasion for the tablet. while the names of the 50 other Indian youths of the school who served in the army, navy or marine corps during the war are to be 1n- cluded on the tablet.
 The bas-relief is to be about six feet high and four feet wide. and is to be cast in bronze. It is probable that 1t will be placed in new commence rative hall which has been authorized by the Indian department and which will be erected soon on the grounds of the Indian school in North Phoe- nix.
 In going back to Hopiland Kopta will continue his art work among the Indfans-work which has brought him to the notice of artists and art lovers throughout the United states, and which, with his intimate $nowi- edge of the Hopis sA ~~-- tim distinctive. figure IF ~crything con- cerned with the aborigines of north ern Arizona The greater part of his work in the past. however, has been connected with the modelling of busts and other relatively small figures Now he intends to devote himself to life sized groups which will Illus trate in a striking manner the rexs life and customs of the HopiS. With this intent he will spend the summer in sketching and portrait modelling the results of which will be taken Dy him to Phoenix next winter when ne will complete the sculptures.
 Tn taking of his work and his plans for the future yesterday, the sculptor turned naturally to a disquisition concerning the Indians to whom he has been guide counsellor and friend for seven years, and of whofd ne mas rafned an intimate and familiar knowledge, and from this point the conversation easily flowed into de- scription of the famous snake dance. of which Kopta has an accurate ana entertaining knowledge
 It may be said in passing that Konta resides at Walpi. the most pic turesoue of the Hopi villages, where Inc snake dance will be held this wear. According to Kopta, the snake dance is held in alternate years Tn different villages. In the odd years as in the present year of 1921, it Will be held in Walpi and Mishongnovi and fl, the even years 1t is held at the villages of Hotevilla, Shimopavi and Shfpaulavi The date of the dance is never known until 16 days before il actually takes place, and it Is thought that tt will be held this year at Waip fn the latter part of August.
 When the time for the dance has approached, the people of the Snake ana Antelope clans meet together and after long smokes decide upoI inc actual date. The chief or tnt pueblo is notified of the decision, ant tbis chief. who alone can give orders to the town crier, announces the da, throuph the crier to all Hopiland. ant n these modern days. to all th' ,.,orls1 for news of the date spreads quickly to tourist and traveier' wh' are always anxious to see this weirs and awe-inspiring ceremony.
 Tn connection with the foregoini
 nethod of announcing the date of tn dance. Kopta told yesterday of tn u,anner in which the date was SC -ben Theodore Roosevelt made hs famous trip into the SouthWest-tn trin which resulted in perhaps tn finest description of the snake danc which has ever been written. J. HubbeH, the well known trader