Neil
David Sr.
Deer
Dancer
12
1/2" total height
The Deer Dancer
takes part in the popular plaza kachina dances. According to
Kachinas by Barton Wright "he has power over the rain, and
of course, when he dances, he is a prayer for increase of deer.
"Usually when
a group of these dancers appear they are accompanied by a Wolf
or Mountain Lion Kachina as a side dancer. Presumably the first
Deer Kachinas were brought from Awatovi, which may be correct
as they retain a strong Rio Grande appearance.
"The position
that this kachina usually assumes when he dances is that of bending
forward at the waist and resting the front part of the body upon
the short stick that is carried in his hands."
- Barton Wright, Kachinas:
a Hopi Artists Documentary (166)
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 comissions 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."
Neil's work is
featured in over a dozen books and periodicals including Art
of the Hopi by Jerry Jacka, Treasures of the Hopi
by Theda Bassman, and Art of Kachina Doll Carving by
E. Bromberg.