Our Kachinas Artists in Keams Canyon, AZ
Kachinas
Brian Honyouti
Brian Honyouti
In Helga’s book, Brian is written about extensively. The Honyoutis are considered forerunners in the art of realistic carvings and are in a class of their own.Brian was born in 1947 in the village of Hotevilla, Arizona on the Hopi reservation. He started carving Kachinas in the mid 1960’s, and learned his carving techniques from his father, who taught him how to make one-piece carvings. He began using oil paints in 1978, and he is universally credited with being the first carver to use wood preservatives and varnish as a sealer, instead of the usual white undercoat.Brian was also the first carver to substitute wood preservatives instead of paint, leaving the flesh areas unpainted and using the natural wood colors. He rarely uses Dremel tools and wood burners, preferring to do all of his carving with pocketknives, chisels, hacksaw blades and small files.
He has signed the doll on the back of the base: “BH”
Brendan Kayquoptewa
Brendan Kayquoptewa
Brendan Kayquoptewa began carving kachina figures over 14 years ago. As a former student of architecture he studied at the University of Arizona and Brigham Young University, where he developed an understanding of form and function which is reflected in his artwork.
Realizing that architecture, as a technical occupation may not allow for the traditional expression he felt so connected to; Brendan shifted his focus full-time to kachina carving.
Although he is mostly self-taught, by looking at the works of others, Brendan also learned from his brother Sam, as well as his late father Robert.
Born in Keams Canyon, Brendan was raised in the traditional village of Hotevilla at Third Mesa, and is a member of the Rabbit and Tobacco clans.
This particular figure is a fine example of Brendan’s meticulous attention to detail and bold use of color.
Brendan’s work is exceptional in this piece as in all of his pieces. His soft and subtle details add amazing realism to his work. Among may other awards; he won best of Kachina Division at the Museum of Northern Arizona’s Hopi Show in July of 2002.
He has signed “B. Kayquoptewa,” and has included his customary deer tracks trademark.
Eugene Dallas
Eugene Dallas
Eugene began carving kachinas full-time as an adult. He has developed a distinctive style that features rich colors and shading on his figures.
His attention to detail is shown not only in his exquisite carving, but also in the costume and accouterments of the kachina. He has said that the Kachinas reflect his Hopi heritage in two ways; first from the way that they appear and also with their associated meanings.
Eugene feels that the Hopi people are an intrinsically artistic culture. He typically signs his kachinas on the bottom with crossed feathered arrows. Eugene has a large extended family of carvers, including his brothers Leon and Reginald Dallas.
Henry Naha
Henry Naha
Well-known Hopi artist Henry Naha carved this fine Kachina. Henry, an outstanding, well-respected carver who is a member of the Spider and Lizard Clans, lives near Polacca, Arizona.
He was taught by one of the masters – Cecil Calnimptewa, who is his Hopi godfather; and was the husband of Avonne Naha, also a talented carver.
He has been an active carver for over 20 years and learned from others such as Denis Tewa and Joseph Dallas.
His figures always have an excellent stance and pose suggesting great strength and pride. The body proportions are in balance and the kachina has well defined musculature. The hands are extremely well carved with detailed fingers and fingernails.
He has signed the bottom of the base: “H. Naha” along with a symbolic lizard, which is his Clan symbol.
Thomas Fredericks
Thomas Fredericks
Thomas Fredericks is from Third Mesa. Born in Phoenix Arizona in April of 1973. Raised in Phoenix with frequent visits to the Hopi Reservation with his parents thus exposing him to his Hopi culture. After graduation from High School, Tom enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served during the 1st Gulf War aboard the aircraft carrier the U.S.S. Independence.
After being honorable discharged he entered the restaurant business and worked until becoming interested in his fathers (Johns) work. First helping to sand carvings and helping at the art shows. He carving on his own, eventually carving well enough to begin selling his own work.
Through practice, trial and error and hard work he has established his own style and customer base. He continues to perfect his own art while he grows to maintain and learn his traditional and cultural identity; he is also the proud father of 3 children, Aeneas, Andrew and Annabelle. Fredericks.
Aaron J. Fredericks
Aaron J. Fredericks
Aaron J. Fredericks is a younger carver whose work has rapidly reached the top of its category. He consistently wins Best of Class at juried competitions including Santa Fe’s Indian Market, the Heard Museum’s Indian Art Show, and others. His work can be found in the most discriminating collections.
He is a traditional carver from the village of Shungopavi at Second Mesa. He enjoys working on his dolls, and gets a lot of inspiration from his cultural heritage. His wife also encourages his work and shares in the creative process by suggesting colorful themes seen throughout his work.
Paul Sewenaenewa
Paul Sewenaenewa
Paul hails from Third Mesa – the village of Hotevilla. He is a young carver at only 34 years old, but has been carving since he was only 7 years old. Born in Ganado, Arizona – he is of the Roadrunner and Greasewood clans of Hopi.
He credits his uncles with teaching him the kachina carving art. His favorite designs include animals, morning kachinas, and maiden kachinas.
“This is a talent that I have been fortunate to be taught by my uncles when I was very young. Doll carving was a way to support myself with things that I wanted when I was a child all the way to my adult life. This has always been a means of supporting my family and myself.
“I enjoy carving because every piece I create has a little piece of myself in it. Each piece of cottonwood has a specific art form in it. When I start carving the kachina, working within the wood, it will come right out and show itself, but if I try to go against what is within the wood, it takes longer and things don’t usually work out the way you want.
“I enjoy teaching my carving talent to people who are serious about learning and who are willing to make something out of being able to learn. My carvings mean a lot to me. I don’t make them just to make them. I always think about how my carvings are and where they live and how they are being taken care of.
“I am very grateful to my uncles Bill & Willard Sewemaenewa for always pushing and encouraging me to learn this art.”
– Taken from Paul’s own autobiographical statement
Malcolm Fred
Malcolm Fred
His awards include a Zuni Fire God, which he entered into the 1996 Arizona State Fair. He is married to and has 3 children with a Zuni lady. One of his favorite kachinas is the whipper, which he seems to do most frequently.Malcolm is of the Greasewood and Roadrunner clans, and was raised in the village of Bacavi. He has been carving for 25 years. His motivation comes from his religion, history, and the freedom of expressing his inner feelings.Malcolm continues to achieve incredible realism in his figures, and is known for his large and well-proportioned figures.
Cecil Calnimptewa
Cecil Calnimptewa
Cecil Calnimptewa is perhaps the most well-known kachina carver of today. His work has been featured in nearly ever publication on Hopi kachina dolls and has been the inspiration behind dozens, if not hundreds, of talented new artists’ work. Whole volumes have been dedicated to his carvings alone.
As recorded in The Kachina Dolls of Cecil Calnimptewa, by Theda Bassman “Cecil Calnimptewa carved and sold his first Kachina doll when he was 18 years old. Since that time, he has become an innovator, teacher, and master of the art.”
He was born on January 1, 1950, into the village of Moencopi near Tuba City, Arizona, and is a member of the Bamboo clan.
His work is known far and wide, as he has received numerous awards and accolades for not only his skills as a carve, but for the innovations in Hopi kachina carving which he pioneered.
“His artistry is exhibited in the fine detail of belts, sashes, and garments as well as musculature, the motion, and active stance of the doll. He produces very realistic figures which have sheer aesthetic beauty and display tremendous power.” – The Kachina Dolls of Cecil Calnimptewa.
Ed Tewanema
Ed Tewanema
His recent return to the reservation has given us the chance to visit with Ed more often. We hope that we’ll be able to bring more of Ed’s exciting work to you.Like many of his contemporaries, Ed’s work can only be found in the most exclusive galleries and private collections. He is well known for being one of the “pioneers” of the elaborate, one-piece, action-oriented carvings.Ed’s figures always have flow and motion in the details – whether it be a swaying turquoise necklace of a dancer, or the messy hair of the Cold Bringing Woman, Ed’s work always has a sense of realism.He is also known for the way his figures “emerge” right out of the base, with the feet and sashes not attached, but carved directly out of the one piece of wood.”I began carving Hopi Kachina dolls in the beginning of 1995. My sons, Dion and Austin, are the inspiration for my artistic expression.
“My kachinas are made from cottonwood roots that I hand carve with a variety of knives. First, the wood is sanded smoothly and textured with a wood burner. Next, the unpainted piece is then sprayed with polyurethane to seal the grains. After this, it is painted and shaded with acrylic paints.
“Although some of my work is traditional, I have cultivated my own style of carving. I am well known for my Butterfly Maiden, Warrior Mouse, Red-tail Hawk, and Kokopelli Couple.
“I am delighted to share my kachina carvings with all who respect and appreciate my artistry and cultural heritage.”
Nuvadi Dawahoya
Nuvadi Dawahoya
Nuvadi is the son of Beauford & Dinah Dawahoya. His name means “Snow,” in the Hopi language. As a young artist, he has quickly captured the attention of collectors and gallery owners around the country.
He has won ribbons at nearly every major show – including many first place prizes and best of show and best of class awards. Some of these competitions include the Heard Museum Indian Market, Santa Fe Indian Market, Tucson market, and the Southwestern Museum Invitational in California.
His work is unlike anything we’ve seen before. He consistently amazes the judges and sets the standard for new and innovative styles in kachina carving. His work has a sense of proportion and realism that is unmatched in the realm of kachina carving.
A close look at Nuvadi’s carvings reveals a meticulous but subtle attention to detail. Each figure is postured and posed to give a sense of life-like action. Every inch gone over and textured very carefully. His background as a two-
dimensional artist assists him in his ability to accurately provide shading and other details. His work is all one-piece.
Coolidge Roy Jr.
Coolidge Roy Jr.
Coolidge Roy Jr. and his wife Juanita live on Third Mesa in Oraibi, Arizona. Coolidge has long been famous for his magnificently beautiful Eagle Dancer Kachina dolls.
Coolidge’s father was a carver, too, as are his brothers and sons. Theda Bassman and Erik Bromberg’s The Hopi Approach to the Art of Kachina Doll Carving can find other fine examples of Coolidge’s work in most books on Hopi art including Hopi Kachina Dolls and their carvers.
He was born on August 4, 1950 and has been carving for well over 30 years. His work is well known and can be recognized easily because of his unique style. One of the most noticeable aspects of his carvings is the “natural” coloration that he achieves by using only very faint pigments.
He likens his expertise unto a professor or doctor who has spent their whole life learning their profession, and it shows in his work.
Coolidge has a lot of respect for his tradition and is extremely sensitive to it. He will not carve certain figure that “the elders” have warned against – concerned that it might bring misfortune to a friend or family member.
“Most of the time, when I am carving,” he said, “I sing a song, a special song for each carving. The songs that I sing are the songs the Kachinas dance to. It’s their song.”
He also has a tradition of gathering up his shavings and taking them to a special place where he leaves them and lets the wind carry them away.
Jon Cordero
Jon Cordero
Born June 16, 1968 to the village of Moenkopi, Arizona, Jon is the son of a Hopi mother, and a Cochiti father who died when Jon was just a baby.
Although Jon was raised on the Hopi Reservation, he would always spend a month each summer with his Cochiti grandmother, the famed matriarch of storytellers, Helen Cordero. His grandmother tried to teach him to make storytellers, but it just wasn’t his calling.
Instead, when he was in high school, he learned to carve Kachina dolls from his uncles, Hopi master carvers Loren Phillips and Tom Holmes. And Loren was not only his teacher but also continued to encourage Jon in his carving through the years.
Like the traditional Hopi Jon continually strives to be, he works very hard all the time tending to his cattle and his horse as well as planting and tending his crops of corn, beans, melons and squash. And he participates in the dances, in respect to the Kachinas.
Yet Jon always finds time to do what he likes best, and that is to carve. Instead of carving alone, Jon prefers the company of other carvers. His favorite carving buddy has always been his cousin and clan brother Leonard Selestewa, who was also always a great source of encouragement for Jon. Among the many books on Hopi Kachinas that mention Jon and his work are Theda Bassman’s Hopi Kachina Dolls and their carvers.
Jon says he is serious about his carving and wants to carve for the rest of his life. Whenever he finishes a carving he hopes it will find a good home, and whoever buys it will admire it for the rest of their lives. Jon has become well known for his beautiful, realistic Kachina doll carvings and his work has become highly sought after.
Alexander Youvella
Alexander Youvella
Alex Youvella is the youngest son of the well-known Hopi kachina carver and traditionalist from First Mesa, Tino Youvella. Tino has been bringing his carvings to the trading post for decades, and has had an incredible influence on his children and in-laws.
Alex has really taken his father’s teachings to a new height. His work stands on its own and speaks for itself.
Alex has lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico for the past several years and has enjoyed the exposure to many types of art and various styles and mediums.
He shows at many venues throughout the Southwest and has won many awards. We hope to see more work by this talented young carver.
Lowell Talashoma
Lowell Talashoma
Lowell Talashoma was born January 23, 1950 in the village of Moencopi, Arizona at the western edge of the Hopi reservation. He spent many of his childhood years in Salt Lake City, Utah, with a Mormon foster family.
In spite of his separation from the Hopi influence, his talent for carving came through as he began carving different animals from wood at the age of 6 as a Cub Scout.
Upon his return to Hopi at about the age of 10 he began carving kachina dolls and has been doing so now for almost 40 years. After Lowell’s return to Hopi he spent many years trying to reconcile the Mormon and Hopi religions. He now feels the two flow together well for him. As a result, Lowell is a very spiritual man.
Lowell states, “I try to carve the dolls the way the Kachinas are in the dances. I look at them the way they walk, the way they stand and how they give the gifts.”
Lowell’s emphasis is on the surface treatment of the wood, creating a multitude of various textures that give a very realistic appearance. Lowell has also done carvings in bronze and is an accomplished painter too
Lowell’s figures portray the human body in full action and in anotomic proportion. Lowell is featured in most every book on Kachinas. He is featured in Hopi Kachina Dolls and Their Carvers by Theda Bassman on pages 150-154 and in The Art of the Hopi by Lois and Jerry Jacka on page 79.
Lowell’s work is also shown in Erik Bromberg’s Kachina Doll Carving on pages 26,27 and 30. In Helga Tiewes book, Kachina Dolls, Lowell is featured on pages 117-119.
The Kachina is signed on the bottom of the base: “Lowell Talashoma, Sr.”
Lester Quanimptewa
Lester Quanimptewa
Born in 1962 at the villages of Third Mesa, Lester is a Hopi Indian artist who has been carving Kachina dolls since about 1991. Like most artists, he is mostly self-taught by watching his other family members work.
Lester carves a wide pantheon of the kachinas, although he has stated that he will not carve the sacred Kachinas. Lester carves his dolls with particular attention paid to the details of the costume of the Katsina; it’s color and design.
Lester’s carving is very important to him as an expression of his Hopi culture, and as a source of income. Lester has won the Best of Show award at the prestigious Eight Northern Pueblo Show in New Mexico. He also won “Award of Excellence” in 2001 at the University of Arizona show.
Alfred Lomaquahu
Alfred Lomaquahu
Alfred “Bo” Lomahquahu was born at Keams Canyon, Arizona in April 1964. He was raised in the small Hopi village of Bacavi, high atop Third Mesa, in Northern Arizona. He learned early the wisdom of accepting and following his elder’s counsel. Advice given him by one grandfather, a Hopi medicine man, to travel and gain new experiences, was particularly influential in the shaping of Alfred’s life and principles.
As a direct result of that advice, he departed his homeland and attended a boarding school in Riverside, California. After completion of his formal education, Alfred joined the Marines, and for the next six years, he traveled extensively. As he observed other cultures, Alfred developed a deeper appreciation for the Hopi’s simple way of life.
A short while after his return to the States, an unfinished kachina was given to him to complete. His first kachina was so well received that he decided to pursue carving as his vocation. From that point, Alfred’s destiny became clear. Today his kachinas are still well received and admired as evidenced by his numerous awards.
At times criticized for his use of power tools when applying finishing touches to his kachinas, Alfred replies, “If you want to accomplish anything, you have to use every available means.”
In each of his dolls, the spiritual element is always present. Couples with that element, Alfred does his utmost to give good form and outstanding physical characteristics to each finished piece. He is always hopeful that each of his kachinas will eventually grace a home where good feelings abound, for the underlying purpose of the kachina is to promote harmony.
Ten-hour days are the norm for Alfred, but he enjoys his “work” and is happy with it. With each passing day, as he patiently toils, Alfred attempts to instill those long ago, sage words of his grandfather, within his own children.
Alfred continues to create masterfully done pieces of art for an ever-growing audience of ardent fans, loyal supporters, and avid kachina collectors.
Ronald Honyouti
Ronald Honyouti
Ronald’s choice of hues and tones contribute to the life-like realism of the piece. As a master-carver, Ronald never misses a single detail. He pays such meticulous attention that even the creases in the knuckles are accounted for, along with fingernails, frays in the sash, and folds in the leather moccasins.Ronald Honyouti is a world-renowned artist who has lived most of his life on the Hopi reservation. He was born on May 20, 1955 at nearby Keams Canyon hospital. Ron began carving at the age of 12, shortly after becoming initiated to the Kachina society.Ronald attended the local elementary schools until graduating from the eighth grade. Like all other young adults his age, he had no choice but to leave the reservation to attend high school. After graduating from high school, Ron attended vocational training to be a motorcycle mechanic. After completing his training Ronald returned home to the village of Bacavi where he continued his carvings and began experimenting with different types of paints to bring out the essence of each piece of wood.His father, Clyde, and older brother Brian, gave him the aspiration to begin carving. The one-piece concept began when Clyde, who was a sheepherder, would take a small piece of cottonwood and a simple knife with him in the morning as he left for the day. During the day while the sheep ate and rested, Clyde would begin his kachina carvings and since he did not have access to any other materials he began to carve the feathers, rattles, drums, etc. as a part of the whole piece. This began the practice of the one-piece kachina carvings made by Ronald and his brothers.Brian, Ronald’s oldest brother, had already been carving one-piece kachinas dolls and using oil paints as opposed to acrylic paints. So naturally this concept was shared with Ron who then began using oil paints. Oil paints brought out the texture, grain and beauty of each piece of wood they were working with. Also the paints made the carvings look natural and realistic versus acrylic paints that seemed very bright, bold and unnatural.
Ronald has won numerous awards for his carvings. Several “Best of division”, “Best of Class”, and “First Place” awards, from shows such as the infamous “Santa Fe Indian Market” held once a year in Santa Fe New Mexico in August and the Indian Ceremonials held in Gallup, New Mexico, and the annual Hopi Show at the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff.
Ron has also been the recipient of the Fellowship Award given by the South Western American Indian Association in 1985. This award seemed to give the extra boost all artists’ need on the road to improvement and self-fulfillment.
Aaron Fredericks
Aaron Fredericks
Aaron J. Fredericks is a younger carver whose work has rapidly reached the top of its category. He consistently wins Best of Class at juried competitions including Santa Fe’s Indian Market, the Heard Museum’s Indian Art Show, and others. His work can be found in the most discriminating collections.
He is a traditional carver from the village of Shungopavi at Second Mesa. He enjoys working on his dolls, and gets a lot of inspiration from his cultural heritage. His wife also encourages his work and shares in the creative process by suggesting colorful themes seen throughout his work.
Neil David Sr.
Neil David Sr.
Born in 1944 on First Mesa in the village of Hano, Arizona, Neil David Sr. – a Hopi/Tewa – was carving kachina dolls before he was ten years old.
During his high school years his paintings and sketches were sold through Byron Hunter who managed McGee’s store in Polacca, Arizona.
Neil’s paintings and kachina carvings can be found in private collections and museums throughout the world. The set of 79 original paintings by Neil published in his book: Kachinas: Spirit Beings of the Hopi have been acquired by the Kashiwagi Museum in Tateshina, Nagano, Japan.
Neil entered the army and served in Germany during the Vietnam War. He resides in Polacca, Arizona on the Hopi Indian Reservation and continues to paint and carve. He sells his paintings and kachina dolls through art galleries and direct commissions from collectors.
Neil’s artistic talents and creativity have brought him international recognition. His humor is conveyed through the expressions and antics of his Clown figures. His dedication and commitment to his heritage is seen in his paintings and carvings.
Neil’s co-mingling of art and dedication to his culture gives a rare opportunity to view elements of Hopi life without intruding on the society. His insight, perception, and ability to capture on canvas, the personalities and actions of performers and spectators during the Hopi festivities have brought him wide acclaim and support for calling him “the Hopis’ Norman Rockwell.”
Jerry Jacka, Treasures of the Hopi by Theda Bassman, and Art of Kachina Doll Carving by E. Bromberg feature Neil’s work in over a dozen books and periodicals including Art of the Hopi.
The always mischievous and sometimes gluttonous Koshare are perfect satire of normal village life. Neil’s Koshare are unique in that each has his own distinct characteristics – and personality. Their facial features, posture, and body movements tell us so much about the attitude of life in the Hopi plaza.
Neil’s work is widely recognized due to the highly exaggerated features of his figures. Oversized ears, nose, and lips usually feature prominently.
Malcolm Fred
Malcolm Fred
His awards include a Zuni Fire God, which he entered into the 1996 Arizona State Fair. He is married to and has 3 children with a Zuni lady. One of his favorite kachinas is the whipper, which he seems to do most frequently.Malcolm is of the Greasewood and Roadrunner clans, and was raised in the village of Bacavi. He has been carving for 25 years. His motivation comes from his religion, history, and the freedom of expressing his inner feelings.Malcolm continues to achieve incredible realism in his figures, and is known for his large and well-proportioned figures.
Kevin Pochoema
Kevin Pochoema
Kevin Pochoema, who is dedicated to perfection and maintaining the traditional Hopi culture through his Kachinas, carved this Kachina. Kevin is recognized as one of the great Kachina doll carvers of his time. He is in his late 30s and has been seriously carving since he was 15. His family is from the village of Paaqavi (Bacavi).
By the time he was 26, Kevin was winning major awards at the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial and O’Odham Tash Festival. He rarely enters his dolls for judging, as serious collectors immediately purchase them.
Kevin has an incredible ability to transform his dolls, it’s almost as if the spectators are watching the Kachinas themselves. Kevin says: “I want to make my dolls flow…I like to show scenes that relate to the Kachina doll I’m carving.” Kevin achieves this through natural looking movement and costuming. He is a master at elaborate detail and superior finish, which sets his work apart from other carvers.
Kevin is an expert at the use of oil-based paints and pigments. The allows him to create subtle variations and concentrations of color to enhance the very strong sense of reality. It takes much experimentation to get his color palette just right.
Kevin has carved this figure out of a single piece of cottonwood root. The items in his hands, and feathers on the head are the only additions.
Even his bases are highly detailed. Kevin usually depicts his figures atop a village setting. This one features an elaborate gathering of kachinas in miniature. Every detail can be accounted for. What an incredible accent to this fantastic carving!
According to “Art of the Hopi” “Detailed carvings in the bases of Kevin’s wood sculptures often relate to the ceremony in which the Kachinas appear”.
Kevin Pochoema is featured on the cover of Art of the Hopi by Lois & Jerry Jacka and on page 67. He is also well represented in Kent McManis new book Hopi Katsina Dolls on many pages throughout the book. In it, Kevin states: “I keep trying to improve so I won’t carve ‘just another doll’.”
Kevin is from Hotevilla, Arizona and has signed the doll: “Pochoema” on top of the base
Loren Phillips
Loren Phillips
Loren was born in Moencopi, Arizona in 1942. Loren consistently wins “Best of Show” awards, especially at the annual Hopi Artists exhibition at the Museum of Northern Arizona in the past. Because Loren participates in the ceremonial dances, he knows every symbolic detail that is significant to each kachina doll he carves.
Loren’s tools for carving are predominately pocket and hunting knives, from which he carves the finer details of patterns, textures and decorative lines. He is very particular about the sanding and finishing of his dolls, especially the last steps of staining and painting. Loren has developed his own method of applying stains to give the surface a beautiful luster, through which the grain of the wood is still visible. All of this is very evident when you look at this kachina.
Loren is very meticulous about the creation of his dolls, and his hallmark is the motion and action he puts into every doll. This kachina is truly an action doll. The posture shows tremendous action, with arms reached out to warn any who would misbehave!
Loren Phillips is featured in every book about Hopi carvers, including “The Art of the Hopi” by Jerry & Lois Jacka, “Kachina Dolls” by Helga Tiewes, “Kachina Doll Carving” by Erik Bromberg and “Hopi Kachina Dolls and their Carvers” by Theda Bassman.
Loren has signed the bottom of the base: “Loren Phillips, Hopi, Moencopi Village.”
Marlin Pinto
Marlin Pinto
“Koshari or Koyala is the name of a Rio Grande clown that is often seen on the Hopi Mesas. The Hopis very frequently call this clown the Hano or Tewa clown as the Tewa of that village seem to have introduced this personage to the Hopi mesas.
These clowns are considered to be the fathers of the kachinas. They behave in the usual manner of pueblo clowns, engaging in loud and boisterous conversation, immoderate actions, and gluttony.
They are often drummers for other dances.”
– Barton Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi Artist’s Documentary (239)
Ros George
Ros George
Ros George is another top-tier kachina carver whose work can be found in only the most discriminating collections. As an award-winning carver, he focuses primarily on pieces for his shows and long list of buyers from around the world.
Ros is featured in “Hopi Kachina Dolls and their Carvers” by Theda Bassman. His story is a compelling one. He started with animal figures, but has become well known for his entire repertoire.
Stetson Honyumptewa
Stetson Honyumptewa
He is known for his incredible detail and attention to proportionate anatomy. He has paved the way for many carvers in the younger generation, including his nephew Ronald Honyumptewa.Now living in Santa Fe, Stetson continues to practice the traditional art of Hopi kachina carving and makes regular trips back home where he participates in the ceremonies with relatives and other peers such as Loren Phillips, and others.
Andrew Sahmie
Andrew Sahmie
Born in 1960, Andrew Sahmie is a Tewa/Hopi Indian artist from First Mesa (Polacca) Arizona. Like most of the Hopi carvers, he is self-taught in the art, working from trial and error and watching his older brothers, Finkle and Randall Sahmie.
Andrew has been carving steadily since about 1990, and has developed outstanding refinement in his work. One has only to look at the crook of a finger on his kachinas to see his concentration and attention to detail.
Creative individuals surround Andrew; his mother, Priscilla Namingha, and his Navajo wife, Ida Sahmie, as well as his first cousins Steve Lucas and Dan Namingha, are all award-winning artists. Andrew’s great-great grandmother was the historic Tewa/Hopi potter Nampeyo.
Murphy Saufkie
Murphy Saufkie
Murphy Saufkie was born June 9th, 1971 at Tuba City. His parents are Jenny Roy and Andrew Saufkie. His mother is of the Coyote Clan and his father is from the Bear Clan. Murphy comes from a family full of fine artists.
His mother&brothers family are well known for their fine Kachinas. Her brothers are Coolidge, David and Silas Roy. Andrew’s father is the famous Hopi artist, Paul Saufkie.
Murphy has two other brothers who carve Kachinas. They are Arvin and Ruben. Murphy learned to carve from watching his uncles carve. He was given his first piece of wood to carve by David Roy when he was in junior high. Murphy’s favorite Kachina to carve is Hilili.
He enjoys carving it because it has more sashes and belts so it is more of a challenge. He likes to carve action and the realistic anatomy of the Kachina. He is also an artist and enjoys drawing. Murphy won 1st place, Best in Category and Best in Class at the O’Odham Tash in 2001.
Sam Kayquoptewa
Sam Kayquoptewa
The artist, a member of the Rabbit/Tobacco Clan, lives in the village of Hotevilla on Third Mesa on the Hopi Reservation.
He is from a family of talented siblings who are basket weavers and katsina doll carvers. He is an award winning carver, having won both the 2003 and 2004 Award of Excellence in Katsina Doll Carving, Southwest Indian Art Fair, Arizona State Museum, Phoenix, Arizona.
His work is in the collection of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, OK.
Lauren Honyouti
Lauren Honyouti
Lauren Honyouti is a well-known carver from a family of well-known carvers. His brothers include Ronald and Brian Honyouti, whose works have received prestigious recognition as well.
Lauren, the middle brother of the five Honyouti boys, started carving full time in the early 1980’s. After returning home from living in the Phoenix area since high school and working with a local utility company.
He would come home for vacations and ceremonies and would carve with his youngest brother, Ronald, watching and learning. Finally after encouragement from family members and others, he decided to return back home.
Lauren now carves full time and is involved with family and community ceremonial activities. His work is seen in galleries throughout the country and does several shows with the rest of the Honyouti family.
David Roy
David Roy
David Roy was born March 16, 1965 to the village of Moenkopi near Tuba City, Arizona.
David is self-taught and looks at his own anatomy in order to understand the body structure of the Kachina dolls. He also looks at books in order to help him understand what to do. In addition, he listens attentively to his customers’ suggestions.
He has been carving since he was in high school and, after graduating, he worked for the Hopi Tribe. He carved in his spare time and said that all of a sudden, he seemed to be getting good. At first, he used feathers and leather, but when he began all-wood carving, he found that he liked it and wanted to learn more about it.
“There is more detail to carve in,” he says. “I always work on one doll at a time as I want to finish a doll and not put it away.” David makes from two to four dolls in a month, taking his time so they will turn out well. He likes to do the Tewa and Eagle Kachinas most because they have more feathers on them. He also likes making the Hemis Kachina doll.
David always carves with cottonwood root, which he buys, but sometimes the dealers will give him wood so that he will sell dolls to them. “I use all kinds of Dremel tools and also the band saw to cut out the doll. I also use X-acto and pocket knives. Many of the carvers say that they don’t use power tools, but they do. Everybody is using them now,” said David.
– Hopi Kachina Dolls and Their Carvers by Theda Bassman (p. 140)
Michael Dean Jenkins
Michael Dean Jenkins
Michael Dean Jenkins is an award-winning carver and is featured throughout “The Art of the Hopi” by Lois and Jerry Jacka on pages 46, 75 and 80. At the 2000 Heard Museum Indian Market, Michael won First Place and Best of Division. He also won First Place and Best of Division at the 1997 Museum of Northern Arizona Hopi Marketplace.
Michael Dean Jenkins is noted for his one-piece Kachina carvings in a very unique style. He uses very soft hues and muted colors to achieve a beautiful finish.
Kerry David
Kerry David
Kerry Lyle David is from Walpi on First Mesa. He is about 40 years old. He has been carving kachina dolls for about 30 years, yet he has been carving one-piece kachina dolls only since about 1985.
Kerry uses only hand tools in making his carvings. He credits his skill to the teachings of his grandfather, Abbott, his father, Leslie, and his uncle, Gorman David. And he says he has also been influenced a lot by his uncle, Neil David, Sr., and from watching other master carvers such as Cecil Calnimptewa and Lowell Talashoma, Sr.
His inspiration, however, always comes from watching the Kachinas in the dances.
Kerry and his work are featured in Theda Bassman’s Hopi Kachina Dolls and their Carvers, Helga Teiwes’ Kachina Dolls, The Art of Hopi Carvers, and The Hopi Approach to the Art of Kachina Doll Carving by Erik Bromberg, among others.
Eugene Dallas
Eugene Dallas
Eugene began carving kachinas full-time as an adult. He has developed a distinctive style that features rich colors and shading on his figures.
His attention to detail is shown not only in his exquisite carving, but also in the costume and accouterments of the kachina. He has said that the Kachinas reflect his Hopi heritage in two ways; first from the way that they appear and also with their associated meanings.
Eugene feels that the Hopi people are an intrinsically artistic culture. He typically signs his kachinas on the bottom with crossed feathered arrows. Eugene has a large extended family of carvers, including his brothers Leon and Reginald Dallas.
Bobby Talahytewa
Bobby Talahytewa
Hopi master carver Bobby Talahytewa created this outstanding carving. Bobby comes from a family of very fine carvers. Bobby was born in Moenkopi. He was introduced to Kachina-doll carving by his family while he was growing up.
His father Stacy Talahytewa, has carved dolls for sale for thirty years, providing all of the family’s income from his work. Stacy carves arms and legs separately, glues them to the body of the carved doll and adorns the heads with chicken or turkey feathers. His dolls are relatively small and are painted over the whole body.
Bobby’s mother, Louise, is from Cochiti Pueblo in New Mexico, where women do not carve Kachina dolls. All four brothers and 7 of Bobby’s 8 sisters carve kachina dolls. Bobby and his brothers and sisters grew up seeing their parents carve for an income, so it was natural for Bobby to pick up the craft when he was in his teens and to earn money from it.
Bobby’s dolls are amazingly fine and usually out of one piece of wood. He has an excellent style and finishes them with more detail than most carvers. His carvings are very well proportioned and finely executed and painted. Bobby also does an excellent job of using motion in his carvings, which is very difficult.
This particular piece has an extremely smooth finish. Bobby prides himself in his super-fine sanding technique. This is one aspect of his work that characterizes his figures over others. The super-smooth surface feels almost velvet-like.
Another feature are the smallest details – such as the creases in the Mudhead mask near the neck of the figure. The hands, fingers, and knuckles are also done very well. The body and proportion are incredible. Photos could never do a piece like this proper justice. If you think it looks good here, wait till you see it in person!
Bobby is well known for his multiple figure masterpieces, and we hope to see more of his work in the months ahead. If you are interested in seeing more work by Bobby Talahytewa, please let us know!