Hello Friends and Family,

Heard Museum, Part 9

Link to the web version by clicking here.

Link to this year's index by clicking here.

Last week, I shared photos of a variety of Kachina dolls — and here is a full wall of these interesting figurines.


This Kachina was crafted by Cecil Calnimptewa, Jr who is a master carver of the Hopi Pueblo. His one-piece carvings are highly sought by museums and serious collectors.


Alvin Navasie is from Polacca on First Mesa on the Hopi reservation. Alvin was taught Hopi carving by his brother-in-law, Cecil Calnimptewa, whose name you saw describing the previous photo. I tried to find out more online about the artist and this Kachina — but only found a number of his works offered for sale (or already sold) but not much more.


Next up was this beautiful pot with an incredibly precise design. It must have taken many hours of intense work to make such a fine piece.


Here we see another collection of finely crafted Hopi jewelry. These pieces are spectacular.


Displayed just below the jewelry are works of silver — candlestick holders, a silver footed bowl, a silver jar, a silver miniature jar, and three Hopi silver and leather belts.


Obviously, this is a blanket but I'd like to share the description at the bottom of the display. "In times of surplus, in times of tragedy, adopting new ideas and systems, while still retaining a sense of cultural ownership. Although garments had a sensible function, to clothe and bring warmth, the style of each is permeated with the pride and ideas of the weaver who created it — dresses made for daughters and granddaughters, for girls becoming women, and women becoming mothers. Each blanket and dress is a symbol of the weaver's emotions toward the recipient of the respected piece."


The next display contains wonderful examples of Native American beadwork and leather craft. Very impressive!


Here we see an excellent example of a quilted blanket. I wish I understood the significance of the design but I could not find a placard with such information.


And here is another display of Native American jewelry — this time from the Navajo Nation. For those of you who do not know, the northeast corner of Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and southeastern Utah is home to the Navajo Nation. It is the largest Indian reservation in the United States, exceeding that of ten U.S. states. It is one of the few reservations whose lands overlap the nation's traditional homelands.


This photo shows some of the silver and leather belts crafted by people from the Navajo Nation. Simply beautiful!


Last for today is additional Navajo-crafted jewelry. All of these pieces contain turquoise — and to my eye, these are very special as a result.


To be continued...

Life is good.

Aloha,
B. David

P. S., All photos and text © B. David Cathell Photography, Inc. — www.bdavidcathell.com