Alfred Bo
Lomahquahu
Billy Goat
11 1/4"
total height
"This is another of the
animal Kachinas who appears during the fast parades and in the
summer may accompany the clowns. He is rarely carved as a kachina
doll and rarely appears in plaza dances.
"His is a comic and clown
Kachina. Reference should be made to the large testicles that
appear beneath his loin cloth. He is one of the copulation Kachinas
and is interested in copulating with everything in sight. His
testicles are full of fruit and other goodies, and towards the
end of the dance the aunt of the man impersonating the Billy
Goat Kachina with cut off his testicles and give the fruit and
other goodies to spectators. He is on occasion referred to as
a Piptuka Kachina which means 'coming to the clowns' kachina.
"This is another of the
innovative Kachinas. The tale is that there was an old man who
had a bad goat in his herd. The old man was throwing a stick
at the bad goat. This Kachina then came to turn the tables on
the old man and to pay him back. The goat then started throwing
the stick at the old man."
- Ricks, J. Brent, et al., Kachinas:
Spirit Beings of the Hopi (70)
Alfred "Bo" Lomahquahu
was born at Keams Canyon, Arizona in April, 1964. He was raised
in the small Hopi village of Bacavi, high atop Third Mesa, in
Northern Arizona. He learned early the wisdom of accepting and
following his elder's counsel. Advice given him by one grandfather,
a Hopi medicine man, to travel and gain new experiences, was
particularly influential in the shaping of Alfred's life and
principles.
As a direct result of that
advice, he departed his homeland and attended a boarding school
in Riverside, California. After completion of his formal education,
Alfred joined the Marines, and for the next six years, he traveled
extensively. As he observed other cultures, Alfred developed
a deeper appreciation for the Hopi's simple way of life.
A short while after his return
to the States, an unfinished kachina was given to him to complete.
His first kachina was so well received that he decided to pursue
carving as his vocation. From that point, Alfred's destiny became
clear. Today his kachinas are still well received and admired
as evidenced by his numerous awards.
At times criticized for his
use of power tools when applying finishing touches to his kachinas,
Alfred replies, "If you want to accomplish anyhing, you
have to use every available means."
In each of his dolls, the
spiritual element is always present. Couples with that element,
Alfred does his utmost to give good form and outstanding physical
characteristics to each finished piece. He is always hopeful
that each of his kachinas will eventually grace a home where
good feelings abound, for the underlying purpose of the kachina
is to promote harmony.
Ten hour days are the norm
for Alfred, but he enjoys his "work" and is happy with
it. With each passing day, as he patiently toils, Alfred attempts
to instill those long ago, sage words of his grandfather, within
his own children.
Alfred continues to create
masterfully done pieces of art for an ever growing audience of
ardent fans, loyal supporters, and avid kachina collectors.
