Clark Tenakhongva

Squash

10 1/2" total height

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Clark Tenakhongva was born in 1956 and comes from a long line of accomplished Hopi carvers. Clark, along with other young carvers have rekindled the traditional style of Hopi doll carving, like their Grandparents who were actively carving in the early 1900's. These dolls closely resemble those dolls made at the turn of the century.

The early traditional style Kachinas have bodies that are carved to approximate human proportions. For example, the arms are usually at right angles and are pressed against the body. A static kilt and sash resemble the lower part of the body and the legs are usually short. The head however, is carved and painted correctly to identify each specific Kachina. These dolls exhibits a pronounced spirituality because of their strong stylization and abstractness. For Clark, his Kachina carving is less of an art form and more of a religious act.

Clark's natural paints are very unique. They are thick and textured. He does not use a sealant, but uses a substance called 'tuuma' which makes the pigment very difficult to rub off. He gets his pigments from all over the southwest and he uses natural pigments of plant dyes and minerals.

Clark first started carving Kachinas when he was 13 years old. He carved the 'old-style' or what he refers to as the traditional style dolls that he used to decorate his house.

 

When a trader from Second Mesa first saw these dolls hanging on the walls of Clark's home, he suggested that Clark should start selling these dolls. So, in 1994, Clark started carving the traditional dolls full time and the first show he entered was at the Santa Fe Indian Market.

The doll is signed on the bottom of the feet with Clark's signature and hallmark. Clark is one of 19 featured artists in the book "Traditional Hopi Kachinas" by Jonathan S. Day. Clark is also in "The Art of The Hopi" by Lois & Jerry Jacka on several pages.

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This figure, the Squash or Patung kachina is a favorite among many collectors and appears primarily on First Mesa as a runner. It is thought that he may have derived from Zuni. Here is is depicted with flowers in both hands, but generally appears with a set of yucca whips in one hand.

As a "runner," the Patung belongs to a class of kachinas who are not dancers but rather run races with the men and boys of the village. "They come in the late spring, either as a group or as individuals, during a pause in a Mixed Dance or Plaza Dance.

Usually they will select one end of the Plaza and , assembling there, will endeavor to have an individual race them. If there are many runners, or Wawarus, there will be a great churning about with one or another racing down the length of the Plaza and other prancing up and down to ready themselves for the coming contest.

Quite often they will lure some unwary clown into racing and will immediately catch the hapless individual and perpetrate their peculiar form of punishment on him. They quickly tire of this and will gesture or hold up a reward to some young man in the crowd of bystanders.

If he accepts, they will allow him about ten feet of space in which he can move about as he pleases. But the minute he leaves the area he runs as if instant disaster were behind him, and it usually is, for some of the punishments are quite unpleasant.

Win or lose, he will receive payment with some kind of food from these racers. No one is safe from the oldest man to the youngest boy; all, including white members of the audience can receive the attention of these kachinas. The kachinas are expected to pay for whipping the young men, and this they do by sending water when it is needed for germinating the crops."

- Barton Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi Artist's Documentary (218)

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