Arthur Holmes
Jr.
Soyok Wuhti
13" H
with 1/2" base
"The awesome figure of
the Monster Woman [Soyok Wuhti] appears during the Powamu
ceremony as one of the many Soyoko who threaten the lives
of the children. Dressed all in black, with long stragling hair,
staring eyes and a wide-fanged mouth, she carries a blood smeared
knife and a long jangling crook - a truely fearsome creature
to the children.
When she speaks, it is in
a wailing falsetto or with a long dismal hoot of 'Soyoko'-u-u-u,'
from which her name is derived. She may reach for the children
with the long crook and threaten to put them in the basket on
her back, or to cut off their heads with the large knife that
she carries in her hand utterly terrifying her young audience.
On some mesas she may be the
ogre that threatens a small child who has been naughty and bargains
with a relative to ransom the child, but on others she is not.
In some villages she leads the procession of the ogres; in others
she remains at the side, content to make threatening gestures."
- Barton Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi
Artist's Documentary (74)
Arthur Holmes Jr. is the son
of well-known Hopi carver, Arthur Holmes Sr. Both have received
recognition for their superb work in kachina carving. Highly
sought after by collectors, both Arthur Jr. and his father keep
busy producing some of the finest carvings available.
Their work can only be found
in the most discriminating collections, galleries, and museums
around the world. Arthur has truly caught his father's vision
for realistic contemporary kachina carving.
As a Hopi Kachina Carver,
Artist Arthur Holmes, Jr. has often found that the pieces he
carves, will become what they want to become. Every aspect of
this piece is detailed to the extreme. We took special notice
of the hands and fingernails.
Arthur Holmes, Jr. is considered
to be one of the best, if not the best, high-end Katsina
carver of our time. His work is a collector's dream because of
the exquisite detail he is known for. Arthur Jr. is a very quiet
person who enjoys carving in seclusion. He keeps his surroundings
surreal, breath taking, and relaxing, creating most of his carvings
in the out-doors. This allows him to feel at one with nature,
and allows him to relax as he creates each masterpiece.
Arthur was taught by his father,
who is very proud of his son, and is pleased with the level of
talent that he has developed. He feels that his son has surpassed
his own work and is very proud of this.
The work of Arthur Holmes
Jr., speaks for itself. Although Arthur Jr. has not entered himself
into many juried competitions, which some say he would easily
win, his work is known throughout the carving and collecting
community, as "elite".
If you're looking to add an
excellent example by one of the living-masters - here's your
chance.
