Cordell Naseyoma
Dragonfly
8 1/2"
total height
"Sivuftotovi or the Dragonfly
Kachina carries a yucca leaf whip and a container of corn smut
that he smears on his victims. If he overtakes his challenger,
he may decide to use the yucca whip rather than smear his victim.
There is quite a range of variation in the appearance of this
kachina. Generally runners do not wear foxskins or bells around
the legs as this interferes with their speed."
- Barton Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi
Artist's Documentary (229)
Cordell Naseyoma is from the
village of Hotevilla at Third Mesa and is a well known carver.
He has learned much of what he knows from watching his friend
and contemporary - Ed Seechoma.
You can immediately recognize
Ed's influence in everything from the style of the doll (it's
creation), and the painting (using the same natural pigments).
Ed endorses Cordell's carvings and feels that they are "almost
as nice as [his], but less money!" Ed always makes us smile.
Like Ed, Cordell's traditional
carvings are highly sought after for many reasons. He is also
one of the few carvers who adheres to the "old" methods
- using antique horseshoe files, all-natural pigments, and of
course hand-tying all his feathers.
To differentiate between Ed's
work and Cordell's just notice the legs - Ed's are bow legged,
while Cordell's are not.
