Ed Tewanema
Deer Dancer
12" 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)
Ed Tewanema is another talented
carver whose work is highly sought after and hard to come by.
We're fortunate to have only a handful of pieces by Ed, every
couple of years.
His recent return to the reservation
has given us the chance to visit with Ed more often. We hope
that we'll be able to bring more of Ed's exciting work to you.
Like many of his contemporaries,
Ed's work can only be found in the most exclusive galleries and
private collections. He is well known for being one of the "pioneers"
of the elaborate, one-piece, action-oriented carvings.
Ed's figures alway have flow
and motion in the details - whether it be a swaying turquoise
necklace of a dancer, or the messy hair of the Cold Bringing
Woman, Ed's work always has a sense of realism.
He is also known for the way
his figures "emerge" right out of the base, with the
feet and sashes not attached, but carved directly out of the
one piece of wood.
