Cecil Calnimptewa
Yo-we
16" total
height
In the late 1600's the Hopi
rebelled against the Spanish priests at the sae time as the Pueblos
along the Rio Grande, but in contrast to the eastern groups the
Hopis were never recoquered.
Yo-we is thought to be the
kachina that killed the priest at Oraibi during this revolt.
He grabbed for the priest's
girl friend but succeeded only in tearing off one of her earrings,
which is why this kachina always appears with a single earring.
Yo-we is an important Powamu
Kachina and never appears in the ordinary dances such as the
Mixed Kachina Dance. This is the Third Mesa form of Yo-we.
- Barton Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi
Artist's Documentary (50)
Cecil Calnimptewa is perhaps
the most well known kachina carver of today. His work has been
featured in nearly ever publication on Hopi kachina dolls and
has been the inspiration behind dozens, if not hundreds, of talented
new artists' work. Whole volumes have been dedicated to his carvings
alone.
As recorded in The Kachina
Dolls of Cecil Calnimptewa, by Theda Bassman "Cecil Calnimptewa
carved and sold his first Kachina doll when he was 18 years old.
Since that time, he has become an innovator, teacher, and master
of the art."
He was born on January 1,
1950, into the village of Moencopi near Tuba City, Arizona, and
is a member of the Bamboo clan.
His work is known far and
wide, as he has received numerous awards and accolades for not
only his skills as a carve, but for the innovations in Hopi kachina
carving which he pioneered.
"His artistry is exhibited
in the fine detail of belts, sashes, and garments as well as
musculature, the motion, and active stance of the doll. He produces
very realistic figures which have sheer aesthetic beauty and
display tremendous power." - The Kachina Dolls of Cecil
Calnimptewa.
