Kevin Pochoema
Ram / Bighorn
14" total
height
with 2" base
This Kachina was carved by
Kevin Pochoema, who is dedicated to perfection and maintaining
the traditional Hopi culture through his Kachinas. Kevin is recognized
as one of the great Kachina doll carvers of his time. He is 34
years old and has been seriously carving since he was 15. His
family is from the village of Bacavi.
By the time he was 26, Kevin
was winning major awards at the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial
and O'Odham Tash Festival. He rarely enters his dolls for judging,
as they are immediately purchased by serious collectors.
Kevin has an incredible ability
to transform his dolls, it's almost as if the spectators are
watching the Kachinas themselves. Kevin says: "I want to
make my dolls flow...I like to show scenes that relate to the
Kachina doll I'm carving." Kevin achieves this through natural
looking movement and costuming. He is a master at elaborate detail
and superior finish, which sets his work apart from other carvers.
Kevin is an expert at the
use of oil-based paints and pigments. The allows him to create
subtle variations and concentrations of color to enhance the
very strong sense of reality. It takes much experimentation to
get his color palette just right.
Kevin has carved the Ram out
of a single piece of cottonwood root. The feathers on the head
and ears are the only additions.
Even the base is highly detailed.
According to "Art of the Hopi" "Detailed carvings
in the bases of Kevin's wood sculptures often relate to the ceremony
in which the Kachinas appear".
Kevin Pochoema is featured
on the cover of Art of the Hopi by Lois & Jerry Jacka
and on page 67. He is also well represented in Kent McManis new
book Hopi Katsina Dolls on many pages throughout the book.
In it, Kevin states: "I keep trying to improve so I won't
carve 'just another doll'."
Kevin is from Third Mesa and
has signed the doll: "Pochoema" on top of the base.
This Big Horn, or Ram kachina
(Pang), is a great example of Kevin's ability as a detailer.
The horns, feathers, and evergreens have all been carefully carved,
as well as the hands, and fingers. His posture and anatomy add
an increased level of realism to the piece.
The Ram Kachina is said to
be used to secure an increase of flocks - however little is known
about the details of the origin or meaning of this particular
figure.
It is known that it belongs
to the "animal" family of kachina figures, and as a
"two horn" figure, it is of this world - and not other-worldly
as are some of it's "single horn" counterparts, so
it is said.
