Silas Roy
Deer Dancer
9 1/2"
H with 2" base
According to Kachinas by Barton
Wright the Deer Dancer "has power over the rain, and of
course, when he dances, he is a prayer for increase of deer.
"Usually when a group
of these dancers appear they are accompanied by a Wolf or Mountain
Lion Kachina as a side dancer. Presumably the first Deer Kachinas
were brought from Awatovi, which may be correct as they retain
a strong Rio Grande appearance.
"The position that this
kachina usually assumes when he dances is that of bending forward
at the waist and resting the front part of the body upon the
short stick that is carried in his hands."
- Barton Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi
Artist's Documentary (166)
This carving was created by
Hopi artist Silas Roy. Silas's work is very much in demand and
his pieces are true works of art. Silas was born in 1948 in Hotevilla,
Arizona and started carving in high school, at the age of 15.
Silas only uses pocket knives to create his carvings and always
carves the dolls in a dance format.
Silas Roy is is one of 25
carvers featured in "Hopi Kachina Dolls and Their Carvers"
by Theda Bassman, on pages 146 through 149.
