Lauren Honyouti
Lightning
Longhair
10 3/4"
H with 2" base
Lauren Honyouti is a well
known carver from a family of well known carvers. His brothers
include Ronald and Brian Honyouti, whose works have received
prestigious recognition as well.
Lauren, the middle brother
of the five Honyouti boys, started carving full time in the early
1980's. After returning home from living in the Phoenix area
since high school and working with a local utility company.
He would come home for vacations
and ceremonies and would carve with his youngest brother, Ronald,
watching and learning. Finally after encouragement from family
members and others, he decided to return back home.
Lauren now carves full time
and is involved with family and community ceremonial activities.
His work is seen in galleries throughout the country and does
several shows with the rest of the Honyouti family.
"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."
- Barton Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi
Artists Documentary (172)
This particular Longhair is
a variation known as the Lightning Longhair, which has similar
functions as those mentioned above, but features unique lightning
rods on top of his head, and a sideways parrot feather.
