Nuvadi
Santo Domingo
Butterfly
8 1/4"
total height
The Santo Domingo Butterfly
girl is a close counterpart to her Hopi relative. The only difference
being their origin and slight variation in dress - with the tableta
being the most prominent difference in particular.
This particular figure represents
the Butterfly Maiden as she appears during the social dances.
She is danced only by the unmarried girls of the village, and
typically is danced during the fall months, before the Kachina
cycle begins again.
She is similar to her Palhik
Mana kachina counter-part in that she wears an elaborate tableta
or headdress. However, she is not a kachina, and can be differentiated
by the fact that she does not wear a mask - although the artist
has chosen to portray her here in a more stylized fashion without
the human face.
Nuvadi has done an excellent
job with the headdress - illustrating his great skill has a free-hand
artist and painter.
This is an absolutely graceful
sculpture by an award-winning artist!
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
"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 woodburner.
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 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.
