Original Painting “Dance of the Quirano” ca. 1960s by Pablita Velarde [SOLD]

The Clowns are part of the religious celebrations at all the pueblos. They may be called by various names—Tewa Clowns, Koshari, Koosa, etc., but their functions are similar. They are ribald entertainers who dance and cavort during breaks between pueblo dances.

The two Quirano clowns portrayed by Pablita in this painting are, like many of her works, subjects that used to appear at the Tewa Pueblos but have not for decades now. They are part of the history she was so fond of and that was relayed to her by Old Grandfather the Storyteller.

These clowns still appear at the Keres Pueblos (Cochiti, Santo Domingo), and were, just last year, reintroduced to San Ildefonso Pueblo by the society at Cochiti. One clown has black body paint with white circles throughout, and the other has white body paint with black circles throughout. They represent the two moieties—the Summer People and the Winter People. This is the traditional manner in which pueblo society is made up. The technical term for these groups is “moieties.”

A chief heads each moiety. The Summer Chief is the supreme authority from February to September; the rest of the year the Winter Chief is in command.

Since these clowns were not active at Santa Clara Pueblo during Pablita’s adult life, it is quite possible that she fashioned these two from those she might have seen at Cochiti or Santo Domingo Pueblos.

The artistic detail on the two clowns is remarkable. Each circle is perfectly formed and their overall balance and layout are perfect. This piece was purchased in 1968, and is presumed to have been painted shortly before that.