Bobby Talahytewa
Left-handed
Hunter
12 1/2"
total height
The Left Handed Kachina is
said by some to be derived from the Hualapai Nation, but other
Hopi attribute them to the Chemehuevi. He is called left handed
because his gear is reversed.
To draw an arrow from the
quiver he must use his right hand rather than his left as is
normal. The Kachina moves with strange bobbing and little choppy
steps. Despite his odd behavior, he is an excellent hunter.
"He is a favorite subject
for the carving of kachina dolls or the paiting of pictures,"
records Barton Wright. Incidentally, Lowell happens to be left-handed
and has adopted the Left-handed kachina as his mascot.
The Left-handed kachina, Suy-ang-e-vif,
may act as a prompter in a dance or be found making odd little
bows and taking small mincing steps at the edge of a procession.
A great deal of the time he
has trouble with the Ho'-e when they appear in the same dance.
[When together], one of the usual pair keeps up a steady step
while the other points to evidence of [game] they are obviously
hunting.
- Barton Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi
Artist's Documentary (32)
This outstanding carving was
created by Hopi master carver Bobby Talahytewa. Bobby comes from
a family of very fine carvers. Bobby was born in Moenkopi. He
was introduced to Kachina-doll carving by his family while he
was growing up.
His father Stacy Talahytewa,
has carved dolls for sale for thirty years, providing all of
the family’s income from his work. Stacy carves arms and
legs separately, glues them to the body of the carved doll and
adorns the heads with chicken or turkey feathers. His dolls are
relatively small and are painted over the whole body.
Bobby’s mother, Louise,
is from Cochiti Pueblo in New Mexico, where women do not carve
Kachina dolls. All four brothers and 7 of Bobby’s 8 sisters
carve kachina dolls. Bobby and his brothers and sisters grew
up seeing their parents carve for an income, so it was natural
for Bobby to pick up the craft when he was in his teens and to
earn money from it.
Bobby’s dolls are amazingly
fine and usually out of one piece of wood. He has an excellent
style and finishes them with more detail than most carvers. His
carvings are very well proportioned and finely executed and painted.
Bobby also does an excellent job of using motion in his carvings
which is very difficult.
This particular piece has
an extremely smooth finish. Bobby prides himself in his super-fine
sanding technique. This is one aspect of his work that characterizes
his figures over others. The super-smooth surface feels almost
velvet-like.
Another feature are the smallest
details - such as the folds in the robe or the beadwork moccasins.
The hands, fingers, and knuckles are also done very well.
Bobby is also well known for
his multiple figure masterpieces, and we hope to see more of
his work in the months ahead. If you are interested in seeing
more work by Bobby Talahytewa, please let us know!
