 | | TRIBE: | Navajo | | DESCRIPTION: | Long Hair Shalako Kachinas are carved from a single piece of cottonwood and attached to a base by a Navajo carver. The artist follows the natural shape of the wood to produce a unique piece. This 16 inch tall Flute Player Kachina is colorful and accompanies the shalako to bring rain the sky. Noted Navajo artist TN created this striking example of Native American art.
Kachinas are original American Indian art that is traditional, colorful and provide a visual representation of an invisible spirit. The Hopi Indians, Westernmost of the Pueblo Indian people, produced the first kachinas to represent the many spirits of the Hopi world. Prior to the arrival of the Spanish colonists, four hundred years ago, the Hopi village was a center of Indian trade in the Southwest. The Hopi village was a dependable source of food even during the years of drought. The surrounding pueblos considered the Hopis to be powerful, spiritual people with a very special ability to call upon favorable spirits to produce rain. The need to have a source of water in this arid land is so important that the Hopis have a Kachina Cult with every Hopi past the age of ten an initiated member. The basic concept of the Kachina Cult is the belief that all things have two forms, the visible and the spiritual. Ceremonies to produce rain are centered on dancers representing the spiritual form. The kachina dolls are the visible representation of the spiritual. Surrounding pueblo Indians produce kachina dolls and often send their kachinas to neighboring pueblos to "visit". Kachinas are hand carved from woods native to the American Southwest. They are decorated with traditional natural materials of wood, leather, colorful cloths, feathers, fur and colorful dyes. Each is then finished when the Indian artist applies the hand painted colors. Current kachinas number in the hundreds with new ones introduced and ineffective ones discarded. Most kachinas have an English equivalent name while others have only the English spelling of an Indian name.
We are proud to present this handmade kachina from New Mexico. Original American Indian art from the Navajo Nation. A great signed addition to your southwestern art collection and a very special gift idea. A good investment in Native American art you will enjoy everyday. | | ARTIST: | T.N. | | ART FORM: | Kachina |
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