Lauren Honyouti
Masau'u
9 1/4"
total height
"Masau'u (Skeleton Kachina)
is the only kachina who does not go home at the Niman Ceremony
and thus may dance at any time of the year. The organization
of the dance is very much like that of the Niman with the Masau'u
dancing in one line and the Masau'u Mana in the other.
"In addition the Skeleton
Kachina may appear during the Pachavu as a pair, with the Wawash
Kachina as a racer, or after a regular kachina dance in the plaza.
As he is a Death Kachina he does many things by opposites, for
the world of the Dead is the reverse of this world.
"Thus he may come down
a ladder backward or perform many other common actions in reverse.
In addition the standard Masau'u dance often has antic episodes
during the performance. Occasionally he may appear as a pair
of Masau'u behaving erratically, singing or growling a bit, beating
on the kiva hatchways with the willow switches, or dancing around
the fires at the cooking pits and even through the fires.
"The many colored splotches
on the mask are alluded to as clouds even though the actual face
is that of a skull surmounted by Soyal prayer feathers."
- Barton Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi
Artist's Documentary (254)
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.
