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The Badger or Honan Kachina belongs to a group of animal dieties often looked upon as healers and other spiritual mediators. "The old Hopi Badger was a curing kachina that the Honanin Clan brought from the ancient village of Kisiwu. Prayers for the growth of healing herbs are given to him. The Badger is holding a gift that he will present to someone as he dances in the Mixed Kachina Dance" -from Kachinas by Barton Wright (p. 115) This beautiful rendition of the Honan Kachina was created by well known Hopi carver Ron Adams who was born February 28, 1948 into the Tewa Stick/Spider clan, with fathers of the Hopi Coyote clan. Ron was born and raised in Polacca, Arizona, with affiliation in Hopi society both at Tewa Village and Walpi. Ron began carving Kachina dolls at the age of 16, giving attention and respect to his traditional upbringing. Ron's interest in carving was primarily a hobby, as he watched his uncles carve, until he moved to South Dakota where he found an abundance of cottonwood root (from which the dolls are carved). It was then that his skills rapidly developed. Today Ron is well known among his people, and among traders and collectors, as a traditionalist and skilled artist. His pieces are often purchased by discriminating collectors and formal collections. He has shown at the Santa Fe Indian Market, as well as the Heard Museum, and other shows. His work can be found at several galleries throughout New Mexico and Arizona. Ron's dolls are considered "one-piece" carvings, and while many contemporary carvers are using instruments such as Dremel tools to help them along, Ron still holds to a simple pocket knife and small razors. This particular Badger has been given special attention, as you will notice the finely carved lines in the "fur" around the neck, as well as the feather fibers. The cloth around the waist has a flowing motion, with Ron's signature "knot" in the lower left. Even the tassles haning from the right wrist have been carefully cut from one piece. |
