Kerry David
Heoto Mana
12" H
with 2" base
"Heoto Mana dances on
all three mesas. Her function is very similar to that of the
He-e-e, the Warrior Maiden. In this role, she acts as a guard
during the Pachavu procession. She also appears in all of the
performances that Heoto does."
- Barton Wright, Hopi Kachinas: a
Hopi Artist's Documentary (160)
Kerry Lyle David is from Walpi
on First Mesa. He is about 40 years old. He has been carving
kachina dolls for about 30 years, yet he has been carving one-piece
kachina dolls only since about 1985.
Kerry uses only hand tools
in making his carvings. He credits his skill to the teachings
of his grandfather, Abbott, his father, Leslie, and his uncle,
Gorman David. And he says he has also been influenced a lot by
his uncle, Neil David, Sr., and from watching other master carvers
such as Cecil Calnimptewa and Lowell Talashoma, Sr.
His inspiration, however,
always comes from watching the Kachinas in the dances.
Kerry and his work are featured
in Theda Bassman's Hopi Kachina Dolls and their Carvers, Helga
Teiwes' Kachina Dolls, The Art of Hopi Carvers, and The Hopi
Approach to the Art of Kachina Doll Carving by Erik Bromberg,
among others.