Paul Sewemaenewa
Snow Maiden
10 1/2"
total height
"Occasionally among the
Kachin Manas of the Niman Ceremony [Home Dance] there will be
seen one who has an entirely white head and face. Snow-white
hair will be done up in a small knot at either side of the head.
Above the painted black eyes is a cluster of small black dots,
and on either cheek the warrior marks appear in black.
"This kachina is the
Snow Maiden whose function is the same as the Kachin Mana in
the Niman Ceremony. However, she is an additional prayer for
the coming cold weather - the hope that snow may fall and fill
the ground with moisture for the coming year."
- Barton Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi
Artist's Documentary (213)
Paul hails from Third Mesa
- the village of Hotevilla. He is a young carver at only 34 years
old, but has been carving since he was only 7 years old. Born
in Ganado, Arizona - he is of the Roadrunner and Greasewood clans
of Hopi.
He credits his uncles with
teaching him the kachina carving art. His favorite designs include
animals, morning kachinas, and maiden kachinas.
"This is a talent that
I have been fortunate to be taught by my uncles when I was very
young. Doll carving was a way to support myself with things that
I wanted when I was a child all the way to my adult life. This
has always been a means of supporting my family and myself.
"I enjoy carving because
every piece I create has a little piece of myself in it. Each
piece of cottonwood has a specific art form in it. When I start
carving the kachina, working within the wood, it will come right
out and show itself, but if I try to go against what is within
the wood, it takes longer and things don't usually work out the
way you want.
"I enjoy teaching my
carving talent to people who are serious about learning and who
are willing to make something out of being able to learn. My
carvings mean a lot to me. I don't make them just to make them.
I always think about how my carvings are and where they live
and how they are being taken care of.
"I am very grateful to
my uncles Bill & Willard Sewemaenewa for always pushing and
encouraging me to learn this art."
- taken from Paul's own autobiographical
statement
