Delwyn Harvey
Red Beard
Longhair
9 1/4"
H with 3/4" base
"The Long-haired Kachina
is one of the most pervasive of all kachinas. It is danced from
the Rio Grande to the Hopi Mesas in almost the same form. Among
the Hopis there are many varieties but the regular Angak'china
is the one portrayed here.
"They appear in a group
and sing a very melodious song which may be one of the reasons
that they are such favorites. They are often used for the Niman
Kachina on First Mesa coming with the Kocha Mana. In fact they
have danced in late August on First Mesa in direct contradiction
to the feeling that only Masau'u can be danced out of season.
Probably this was due to the presence of the Tewa people who
do not have a closed kachina season.
"Their purpose is to
bring rain, and it is said that they seldom dance without the
appearance of a soft gentle rain to help the crops grow. The
Angak'china shown [here] is the variety known as Hokyan Angak'china,
so named because of the peculiar step he uses in dancing. He
is also called the Red-bearded Angak'china. His function is exactly
the same as the regular Angak'china - to bring rain for the crops.
Angak'china is shown [here] as he delivers presents in mid-summer."
- Barton Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi
Artists Documentary (172)
Delwyn Harvey, "Wea"
(One of a kind), was born on the Hopi reservation in 1965. He
is a member of the Kachina Crow Clan. Delwyn has been carving
Hopi kachinas since 1978. He is a self taught artist.
Delwyn is also related to
Nuvadi Dawahoya (brother-in-law), who is a master carver in his
own right.
Like other contemporary kachina
carvers, Delwyn hand carves cottonwood root into magnificent
full bodied kachina dolls with a simple tool like a pocket knife.
His carvings are carved with extreme precision and detail.
He applies acrylic paints
to his dolls and paints them very carefully because it is essential
for the Hopi people to represent the kachina as accurately as
possible. Many of his dolls are carved from one continuous piece
of cottonwood. Some of his dolls are sought by collectors all
over the world. Delwyn signs his dolls "D. Harvey."
