Ronald Honyouti
Dawa / Sun
8 1/2"
H with 1 1/2" base
The Sun Kachina (Dawa) is
a representation of the spirit of the Sun. He is very seldom
seen in public because the performance of the rituals is sacred
and secret...reserved only for specific clans or high priesthood
leaders. Although very popular among the carvers, he seldom appears
in the Kachina dances. The Sun Kachina radiates rays down to
the Earth giving it warmth and life.
The mask of the Sun Kachina
is a representation of the round face of the Sun. The lower half
of the face is blue with rectangular eyes, a triangle mouth and
vertical bars on each cheek. Carved red horsehair hangs from
his forehead and drapes the mask.
According to Barton Wright,
"the Sun Kachina is a representation of the spirit of the
Sun, though on occasion be called the Sun Shield Kachina. He
appears in a role very similar to that of the Nakiachop or Talavai,
standing to the side with a spruce tree in his left hand and
a bell in his right.
Also, he may appear in a Mixed
Dance with the flute in his left hand that is associated with
him in many myths. He is not often personated."
- Barton Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi
Artist's Documentary (124)
The most impressive feature
about the mask are the black tipped feathers that radiate from
the rim and completely circle the edge of the mask. They are
all individually detailed and carved.
This fantastic piece is the
creation of Ronald Honyouti. Ronald has done an amazing job,
as always, with his oil paints - bringing the subtle and unique
features of the cottonwood to life.
Ronald's choice of hues and
tones contribute to the life-like realism of the piece. As a
master-carver, Ronald never misses a single detail. He pays such
meticulous attention that even the creases in the knuckles are
accounted for, along with fingernails, frays in the sash, and
folds in the leather moccasins.
Ronald Honyouti is a world
renowned artist who has lived most of his life on the Hopi reservation.
He was born on May 20, 1955 at nearby Keams Canyon hospital.
Ron began carving at the age of 12, shortly after becoming initiated
to the Kachina society.
Ronald attended the local
elementary schools until graduating from the eighth grade. Like
all other young adults his age, he had no choice but to leave
the reservation to attend high school. After graduating from
high school, Ron attended vocational training to be a motorcycle
mechanic. After completing his training Ronald returned home
to the village of Bacavi where he continued his carvings and
began experimenting with different types of paints to bring out
the essence of each piece of wood.
His father, Clyde, and older
brother Brian, gave him the aspiration to begin carving. The
one piece concept began when Clyde, who was a sheepherder, would
take a small piece of cottonwood and a simple knife with him
in the morning as he left for the day. During the day while the
sheep ate and rested, Clyde would begin his kachina carvings
and since he did not have access to any other materials he began
to carve the feathers, rattle's, drums, etc. as a part of the
whole piece. This began the practice of the one piece kachina
carvings made by Ronald and his brothers.
Brian, Ronald's oldest brother,
had already been carving one piece kachinas dolls and using oil
paints as opposed to acrylic paints. So naturally this concept
was shared with Ron who then began using oil paints. Oil paints
brought out the texture, grain and beauty of each piece of wood
they were working with. Also the paints made the carvings look
natural and realistic versus acrylic paints that seemed very
bright, bold and unnatural.
Ronald has won numerous awards
for his carvings. Several "Best of division", "Best
of Class", and "First Place" awards, from shows
such as the infamous "Santa Fe Indian Market" held
once a year in Santa Fe New Mexico in August and the Indian Ceremonials
held in Gallup, New Mexico, and the annual Hopi Show at the Museum
of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff.
Ron has also been the recipient
of the Fellowship Award given by the South Western American Indian
Association in 1985. This award seemed to give the extra boost
all artists need on the road to improvement and self fulfillment.
