Katsina : Left Hand Hunter : Lowell Talashoma

Left Hand Hunter Katsina by award winner artist Lowell Talashoma.

Object : Katsina (Katchina) 

Title : Left Hand Hunter (Siyangephoya)

Carver : Lowell Talashoma.

Origin : Hopi

Size : 7"

Materials : Wood, feathers, fur and paint.

The Left-Handed Katsina (Siyangephoya) is said by some to be derived from the Hualapai Indians. He carries his gear opposite of regular Katsinam (he must use his right hand rather than his left to draw an arrow from the quiver). This Katsina moves with strange bobbings and little mincing steps. Despite his odd behavior he is an excellent hunter and some consider him quite powerful. In carvings he is often shown holding an eagle or with a deer draped over his shoulder demonstrating his hunting prowess. Marlin did a wonderful job on this carving; one can feel the power in this Katsina figure.

 
Lowell Talashoma

About Katsina:

Central to Hopi religion, Katsinas are supernatural beings believed to live on the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff, Arizona. Hopi men embody the Katsina spirits during ceremonies that take place between Winter Solstice and mid-July. The Hopis believe these spirits enable them to live in harmony with nature, ensuring rain, crops, fertility, and good hunting. The Hopi men embody the spirits of these Katsinas by wearing masks and dancing in the plazas of the villages. The dolls, which are carved replicas of the dancers, are given to the children so that they may learn about their people's traditions. The art of carving Katsina dolls has evolved from the old-style block-like figures into today's highly detailed, all-wood dolls with realistic form and action.

Over time, Katsina Dolls became more and more sophisticated and included bases for the dolls to stand on and showing the Katsina in “action”- such as dancing or hunting. All Katsina Dolls are carved out of the root of the Cottonwood tree. The Cottonwood tree’s vigorous roots travel far and deep in search of water. There is spiritual importance in this fact, as the Hopis are dry farmers in an arid part of Arizona and the search for water is of critical importance to their culture.

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