Manuel Chavarria
Old Style
Hilili
15" total
height
We are delighted to featured
the award-winning work of traditional Hopi kachina carver Maneul
Denet Chavarria. Manuel is considered one of the "winningest"
old-style carvers of his time.
Manuel is from First Mesa.
He has influenced many of today's younger traditional carvers.
Along with his numerous awards, he has been featured in many
publications, including Arizona Highways and Tradition Hopi
Kachinas: A New Generation of Carvers by Johnathon Day.
The Hilili "is apparently
a kachina that has made its way from Acoma or Laguna by a process
of osmosis. In these pueblos he is known as Heleleka. By the
time he reached the Hopis prior to the turn of the century, his
name had changed to Hilili, 'from the call that he makes.'
"His first appearance
was among the Hopis of First Mesa and the other two mesas made
known their disapproval by calling this a witch or Powak Kachina.
However, his popularity as a guard kachina and admiration for
his rapid dance has increased.
"Now he is found on all
the mesas in a great variety of forms. He appears very frequently
in the Powamu and in the Night Dances."
- Barton Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi
Artist's Documentary (43)
The early traditional style
kachinas have bodies that are carved to approximate human proportions.
For example, the arms are usually at right angles and are pressed
against the body. A static kilt and sash resemble the lower part
of the body and the legs are usually short. The head however,
is carved and painted correctly to identify each specific Kachina.
These dolls exhibits a pronounced spirituality because of their
strong stylization and abstractness.
