Alvin Navasie
Wildcat
14" total
height
"Tokotsi or Tokoch Kachina
is the Wildcat Kachina. He is one of the Angry Kachinas and appears
with others of this type when there is work to be done in the
community such as the cleaning of the springs.
"He never appears in
regular dances unless it is the Soyohim or Mixed Kachina Dance.
As a kachina who is expected to keep the idlers at work, he usually
carries a rope in his left hand and a switch in his right."
- Barton Wright, "Kachinas: a Hopi
artist's documentary" (31)
Considered by some to be the
pioneer of modern kachina carving, Alvin Navasie has certainly
left his mark on an ancient Hopi tradition. Alvin, who is from
Polacca on First Mesa on the Hopi reservation, has done an excellent
job carving this Kachina. Alvin was taught Hopi carving by his
brother- in-law, Cecil Calnimptewa, who frequently shares his
time with both Alvin and his brother Wally Navasie.
Alvin is one of 25 carvers
featured in Theda Bassman's book, "Hopi Kachina Dolls and
Their Carvers" on pages 104-107. Alvin is 37 years old and
has been carving for over 20 years. The Kachina is signed on
the bottom of the base: "Alvin Navasie, Sr."
