Coolidge Roy
Jr.
Yellow Ahote
8 1/4"
H with 1 1/4" base
"A'hote may appear in
any of the directional colors but the two most common colors
are the yellow A'hote (Sikyahote) or the blue (Sakwahote).
"In a Plaza Dance it
is not unusual to see a line of Sakwahote with several Sikyahote,
and a white or red form as well. All indications in his costume
point to inspiration from a Plains-type warrior, particularly
the feather headdress.
"A'hote may appear in
the Mixed Kachina Dances, or the Palolokong Dances and the Plaza
Dance. In his left hand he very frequently carries roast or boiled
corn that is given out to the audience during his performance."
- Barton Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi
Artist's Documentary (170)
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. Other fine examples of Coolidge's
work can be found in most books on Hopi art including Hopi
Kachina Dolls and their carvers by Theda Bassman and Erik
Bromberg's The Hopi Approach to the Art of Kachina Doll Carving.
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 experise 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 who "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.
