Kevin Pochoema

Crow Mother

12" total height


The Angwusnasomtaka, or Crow Mother, as she is called, "is a figure of great dignity. She appears on all three mesas, usually in connection with the initiation of the children, although she also appears on other occassions.

At the initiation rites she descends into the kiva bearing a large number of yucca blades bound together at the base. She takes a position at one corner of the large sand painting on the floor of the kiva, with one of her "sons" on either side of her.

As the candidate is brought to the sand painting she hands a whip to one of the Hu' Kachinas who gives the child four healthy strokes with the yucca blade. When the yucca becomes worn it is handed back to the Crow Mother who then supplies a new one.

When the initiatory whipping is over, she raises her skirts and receives the same treatment accorded the children. They are given prayer feathers and meal and leave the kiva."

- Barton Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi Artist's Documentary (66)


This Kachina was carved by Kevin Pochoema, who is dedicated to perfection and maintaining the traditional Hopi culture through his Kachinas. Kevin is recognized as one of the great Kachina doll carvers of his time. He is in his late 30s and has been seriously carving since he was 15. His family is from the village of Paaqavi (Bacavi).

By the time he was 26, Kevin was winning major awards at the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial and O'Odham Tash Festival. He rarely enters his dolls for judging, as they are immediately purchased by serious collectors.

Kevin has an incredible ability to transform his dolls, it's almost as if the spectators are watching the Kachinas themselves. Kevin says: "I want to make my dolls flow...I like to show scenes that relate to the Kachina doll I'm carving." Kevin achieves this through natural looking movement and costuming. He is a master at elaborate detail and superior finish, which sets his work apart from other carvers.

Kevin is an expert at the use of oil-based paints and pigments. The allows him to create subtle variations and concentrations of color to enhance the very strong sense of reality. It takes much experimentation to get his color palette just right.

Kevin has carved this figure out of a single piece of cottonwood root. The items in his hands, and feathers on the head are the only additions.

Even his bases are highly detailed. Kevin usually depicts his figures atop a village setting. This one features an elaborate gathering of kachinas in miniature. Every detail can be accounted for. What an incredible accent to this fantastic carving!

According to "Art of the Hopi" "Detailed carvings in the bases of Kevin's wood sculptures often relate to the ceremony in which the Kachinas appear".

Kevin Pochoema is featured on the cover of Art of the Hopi by Lois & Jerry Jacka and on page 67. He is also well represented in Kent McManis new book Hopi Katsina Dolls on many pages throughout the book. In it, Kevin states: "I keep trying to improve so I won't carve 'just another doll'."

Kevin is from Hotevilla, Arizona and has signed the doll: "Pochoema" on top of the base.

Gallery Price: $7,500.00
nw
Reduced Sale Price: $4,800.00
(plus sh/han)


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item, please contact Brandon:
sales@ancientnations.com

1.800.854.1359

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