Cordell Naseyoma
Deer Dancer
11 1/2"
total height
The Deer Dancer takes part
in the popular plaza kachina dances. According to Kachinas by
Barton Wright "he has power over the rain, and of course,
when he dances, he is a prayer for increase of deer.
"Usually when a group
of these dancers appear they are accompanied by a Wolf or Mountain
Lion Kachina as a side dancer. Presumably the first Deer Kachinas
were brought from Awatovi, which may be correct as they retain
a strong Rio Grande appearance.
"The position that this
kachina usually assumes when he dances is that of bending forward
at the waist and resting the front part of the body upon the
short stick that is carried in his hands."
- Barton Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi
Artists Documentary (166)
Cordell Naseyoma is from the
village of Hotevilla at Third Mesa and is a well known carver.
He has learned much of what he knows from watching his friend
and contemporary - Ed Seechoma.
You can immediately recognize
Ed's influence in everything from the style of the doll (it's
creation), and the painting (using the same natural pigments).
Ed endorses Cordell's carvings and feels that they are "almost
as nice as [his], but less money!" Ed always makes us smile.
Like Ed, Cordell's traditional
carvings are highly sought after for many reasons. He is also
one of the few carvers who adheres to the "old" methods
- using antique horseshoe files, all-natural pigments, and of
course hand-tying all his feathers.
To differentiate between Ed's
work and Cordell's just notice the legs - Ed's are bow legged,
while Cordell's are not.
