Adrian Poleahla
Warrior Maiden
13" total
height
(incl. 2 1/2"
base)
"Hé-é-e
or Hé'wuhti may be seen in Powamu celebrations most years,
but it is at the Pachavu ceremonies that Hé-é-e
is seen in her most impressive appearance. This kachina is the
Warrior Maid, based on the story of a young girl.
Many years ago, tradtion says
that some Hopis were living outside the main village, and the
mother of this household was putting up her daughter's hair.
The mother had finished only one side of the hair whorls, the
hair on the other side still hanging loosely, when they saw enemies
sneaking toward the village.
The daughter snatched up a
bow, quiver, and arrows from the wall and raced toward the village
to warn the people. She then led the defense until the men in
the fields could return and rout the enemy.
She has been personated ever
since as a kachina and always appears with her hair partially
up on one side and hanging down on the other. On the back of
her head she wears an artificial scalp lock, and she carries
the weapons she snatched up so long ago. She still guards the
village."
- Barton Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi Artist's
Documentary (57)
Adrian is a fine kachina carver,
noted for his detailed and realistic figures, often "caught"
in action. He has also been able to adapt his level of detail
to some small paintings as well.
Adrian Poleahla was born in
Keams Canyon, Arizona, and comes from the Corn and Water Clan.
He is an accomplished Kachina carver who has been carving Kachinas
over thirty years, starting at the age of 5. Adrian also is an
artist and his subject is the Kachinas that he knows and loves.
He learned carving from his father, John Poleahla, and brothers
Irwin, Wayne, Shona, and John Jr. Adrian carves his dolls in
the traditional material of cottonwood with precision detail
and three dimensional attention to every surface and angle.
“Every Kachina I do is
what I’ve seen in life so therefore I try to make every
one real. I have been carving since I was 5 years old. I am very
grateful for my talent and for those whose heart my Kachinas
have touched.”
AWARDS/EXHIBITIONS:
Heard Museum, Phoenix, Arizona
Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology,
Bristol, Rhode Island
Intertribal Ceremonial, Gallup
New Mexico
PUBLICATIONS:
The Hopi Approach to the art
of Kachina Doll Carving, Eric Bromberg
Hopi Katsina 1600 Artist Biographies,
Gregory Schaaf
