Arthur Holmes
Jr.
Hú
/ Whipper
11 3/4"
H with 1" base
"When the time approaches
for whipping the children during ceremonies in the kiva, a signal
is given and the three kachinas: the Crow Mother and her two
sons, the Hú Kachinas, come rushing toward the kiva.
"There they make four
circuits of the hatchway creating as much noise as possible by
beating the hatchway with their whips and bounding about to make
their rattles sound. At the end of the fourth circuit they enter
the kiva and take their positions north of the fireplace. The
initiates are brought forward by their ceremonial god-parents
and placed on the sand painting.
"The Hú Kachinas
advance and give them four strokes with their yucca whips. As
each candidate is struck the yucca whip is waved through the
air with a wicked swish. This is a gesture of purification. After
the Hú Kachinas finish whipping the children, they whip
each other and then the Crow Mother. The Kachina Chief then dismisses
them with prayer feathers and cornmeal. They depart as noisily
as they came."
- Barton Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi
Artist's Documentary (67)
Here he appears with yucca
reeds in both hands. He is wearing a traditional kilt. His moccasins
are rawhide and reach above his ankles. A fox pelt drapes from
his backside and sways as he dances.
His shawl is made from the
skin of a bobcat, while tufts of parrot feathers along with eagle
tail feathers adorn the top of his head, and eagle plumes dangle
from both sides of his face.
Arthur Holmes Jr. is not only
a great carver, but he is an expert painter. This is something
that many people tend to overlook. The true artistic ability
of a carver is demonstrated by his skill in bringing both the
carving and the painting together.
Notice the depth created by
the shading Arthur has carefully painted in all the right areas.
It gives depth and definition to details in the hands, the sash,
the kilt and elsewhere.
Arthur Holmes Jr. is the son
of well-known Hopi carver, Arthur Holmes Sr. Both have received
recognition for their superb work in kachina carving. Highly
sought after by collectors, both Arthur Jr. and his father keep
busy producing some of the finest carvings available.
Their work can only be found
in the most discriminating collections, galleries, and museums
around the world. Arthur has truly caught his father's vision
for realistic contemporary kachina carving.
As a Hopi Kachina carver,
Arthur Holmes, Jr. has often found that the pieces he carves,
will become what they want to become. Every aspect of this piece
is detailed to the extreme. We took special notice of the hands
and fingernails. It is easy to see why Arthur Jr. is considered
by some to be the very best.
Arthur prefers to carve alone.
Many of his works are created outdoors, where he is able to relax
and find inspiration for his next piece. This approach seems
fitting since so much of the Kachina tradition involves a reverence
for the natural and animal world. This same regard for nature
and the spiritual realm is reflected in Arthur's highly detailed
and extremely realistic carvings.
Arthur has arguably surpassed
his father's ability as a carver, but being the humble person
that he is, he always denies this. As his teacher, his father
must surely be proud of the skill and artistry his son has developed.
If you're looking to add an
excellent example by one of the living-masters - here's your
chance.