Eugene Dallas

Wiharu / White Ogre

17 3/4" H with 4" base


The Wiharu functions in exactly the same way as the Nataska, only it appears in white.

"The fearsome Nataska always come as a pair. They accompany the Soyoko on their collection trip and usually stand directly behind the member of the crew who is bargaining with the relatives of the children.

"They make horrible noises, dragging their saws [and knives, or whatever it may be] along the side of the house or on the ground. All the while, they keep up a steady stamping that makes the turtle-shell rattles on their legs sound ominously.

"They are supposed to be able to eat a child whole; from the very earliest age, the child has heard stories of these monsters - how they would descend on children playing near the village and haul them away to cook and eat. So it is no wonder that the children are petrified at their actual appearance!

"Usually only dark colored clothes are put on this kachina pair, who should have horns. The feather fan is made of turkey feathers which are placed close together to form a large mass behind the head that makes the figures appear much taller and broader."

- Barton Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi Artists Documentary (78)

Eugene began carving kachinas full-time as an adult. He has developed a distinctive style that features rich colors and shading on his figures.

His attention to detail is shown not only in his exquisite carving, but also in the costume and accouterments of the kachina. He has said that the Kachinas reflect his Hopi heritage in two ways; first from the way that they appear and also with their associated meanings.

Eugene feels that the Hopi people are an intrinsically artistic culture. He typically signs his kachinas on the bottom with crossed feathered arrows. Eugene has a large extended family of carvers, including his brothers Leon and Reginald Dallas.

 

Gallery Price: $1,500.00

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