Leo Lacapa
Snake Dancers
7 1/2"H
with 1/2" base
Chusona,
or Snake Dancer, is mistakenly taken for a kachina. It is not,
being rather a society personage, but one of great popularity.
The Snake Dance has always had a intense fascination for the
non-Hopi, and in consequence effigies of this personage have
been carved for many years.
As
a side note, this summer dance had been ruled off limits to non-Hopi,
because the crowds attending had become so offensive to the Hopi
religious sensibilities.
Leo
Lacapa is a carver that we recommend for the collector who wants
a quality piece at a reasonable price. Leo is from from First
Mesa, above Polacca.
His
representations are very accurate, his proportions are very good.
One of the reasons that this is so is that Leo regularly participates
in the First Mesa kachina ceremonies. In his early 50s, he is
a long-time carver.
