"The Great Horned Owl
[Mongwa] is best noted for his incessant war on the clowns. As
the clowns follow their usual pattern of un-Hopi-like behaviour,
a single silent figure will drift into one corner of the plaza
and watch these uncouth fellows."
"When the clowns next
appear, growing ever more boisterous in their actions, the Owl
again appears and hoots solemnly. With each appearance he gets
closer until he ends up talking with the clown chief who promptly
blames all misbehaviour on the other clowns."
"But at the last performance,
the Owl is joined by other Warrior Kachinas. They leap upon the
clowns, douse them with water, beat them vigorously with willow
switches or yucca blades, and leave them howling with remorse
in a pile in the middle of the plaza." - Barton Wright,
Kachinas: a Hopi Artist's Documentary
Another characteristic of
the Owl is that of a messenger. He comes to warn the village
and to call them to repentance. Perhaps this is why he carries
on that way with the clowns - as a symbol. He comes to warn them
of the bad things that can happen if they are not living right.
Arthur Holmes Sr. is the father
and teacher of well-known Hopi carver, Arthur Holmes Jr. Both
have received recognition for their superb work in kachina carving.
Highly sought after by collectors, both Arthur Sr. and his son
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 a truly unique vision for realistic
contemporary kachina carving which he has succesfully passed
on to his son.
As a Hopi Kachina Carver,
Arthur Holmes, Sr. 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,
fingernails, and folds in the sash and robe. A special feature
is the cluster of feathers emerging from the mouth - representing
the sacred "breath" of life. This is a rare and sometimes
considered taboo feature but adds a great deal of character to
this piece.
Like his son, Arthur Sr. is
a very quiet person who enjoys carving in seclusion. 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.
If you're looking to add an
excellent example by one of the living-masters - here's your
chance.
