Oliver Tsinnie
Crow Man
15 1/2"
total height
"Angwus Kachina
is the Crow Kachina. This kachina is one of the warriors who
make war on the clowns during the Plaza Dances or who appear
in the Soyohim of late spring.
"He comes to threaten
the clowns for their immoderate behavior, appearing again and
again until finally he and others who have the same function
descend upon the clowns and thoroughly chastize them."
- Barton Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi
Artist's Documentary (158)
Oliver Tsinnie was born to
Dorothea Fritz and Orville Tsinnie in December, 1964. He was
born into the Hopi fire clan (also known as Masa) on his mother’s
side and his father was Navajo. He has been carving since 1992
and credits his mother for convincing him to give carving a try.
He was completely self-taught. He remembers watching his Grandfather
and his uncles carving when he was very young. At that time he
says, they pieced the Kachinas together with nails and put fabric,fur
and leather on them for clothes and shoes. Oliver is married
to Marcella and they have 10 children between them.
Oliver carves one piece Kachinas
and has become a very fine carver. He uses quite a bit of motion
and his fine detail is excllent. His favorite Kachinas to carve
are the Ogre and the Deer.
Oliver has taken awards at
the Museum of Northern Arizona and Santa Fe at Indian Market.
He also won the SWAIA challenge award in 2000.
