Alvin James
Sr. - Makya (d.)
White Buffalo
17 1/2"
H incl. 3" base
The White Buffalo Dancer,
Kocha Mosairu, is actually not a Kachina, but one of the star
social dancers. He is usually seen in the month of January, particularly
in the kiva dances on Second Mesa. He is said to be an import
from the Rio Grande Pueblos, since they regularly traded for
buffalo skins with the Plains Indians.
Alvin was born May 7, 1936
at the Hopi Village of Old Oraibi, Arizona. He was a forerunner
in carving fine, all wood kachinas and sculptures. The life-like
features made his kachinas unique. He started carving as a small
boy, but it wasn't until he got out of the military that he took
a real interest in carving.
Today he is remembered as
one of the foremost pioneers of modern kachina carving. His work
has been represented in nearly every major publication on kachina
carvings and is shown in major museums and collections around
the world.