Neil David
Sr.
"Dog'
On It"
Koshare Clown
9 1/2"
tall by 7 1/2" long
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.
The always mischievous and
sometimes gluttonous Koshare are perfect satire of normal village
life. Neil's Koshare are unique in that each has his own distinct
characteristics - and personality. Their facial features, posture,
and body movements tell us so much about the attitude of life
in the Hopi plaza.
Grabbing for his loin cloth
while the village hound has him in a predicament, this figure
really comes to life. He has been carved entirely out of one
piece, and then attached to the base along with the dog. The
straw has even been carved into the Clown's hat making it even
more realistic.
Neil's work is widely recognized
due to the highly exagerated features of his figures. Oversized
ears, nose, and lips usually feature prominently.
