Kachina Corn Doll

[Mottles]

Hi All, still carving reliefs but thought I'd take a brake and do something a little different. I have always been fascinated by the Native American Kachina Dolls. So I decided to try my hand at one using cottonwood root. I live close to a creek where cottonwood tree's grown along the bank. Up and until just lately I've carved only the limbs I find lying on the ground. After collecting some roots I found lying on the ground and carving them for these little dolls. If you have ever carved cottonwood root you know how wonderful it is to carve.
The dolls are based on an actual Hopi Kachina. They are 7" Tall and about 1 1/2" Round. I painted them with artist acrylic colors using Yellow Oxide, Red Oxide, Thalo Green and Black, White. The two large feathers and corn (at base) were carved and painted separately then glued to their locations. Real feathers were added for additional interest. The base is cottonwood limb.
As always I value your comments.
Kathy

[fishcarver2004]

pretty cool Kathy!!
Stacey

[Ashbys]

Kathy,

Very unique were the orginial dolls made from corn. Very interesting doll.
Seems corn and dolls have been assoicated together since this country was founded the early settlers made dolls from corn husk, so to see a southwest native doll showing a realtionship to corn really shows how important it was in their daily lives as well.

Ash

[Mark N. Akers]

Kathy:
Great job on the kachina doll.

[Kenny_S]

Neato Kiddo!

[drummingamy]

I love Kachina's, nice job, I think you may have inspired my next project!!!

[foundwood]

You have invested a great deal of thought and heartfelt effort into your dolls. Whenever you display one, please place a card at the base telling folks explaining what you have done. Great work!

[Mottles]

Hi All, thank you for the wonderful response to my carving based on the corn kachina doll. As the Hopi consider these dolls as an important part of their culture I approach creating one carefully with much respect for the culture that created them. Ash, not sure about the first dolls being made from corn. I can tell you this they date back to the 1300-1400s. The Spanish wrote in the 1500s of seeing hideous images of the devil, undoubtedly kachina dolls, hung in pueblo homes.
I'm working on another doll at present that is my own design and more sculptural in nature and resembles the more modern warped recent dolls. I will share soon.
Kathy

[Bartster]

kathy,

great work on the kachina doll,very creative.

bart

[love2carve2]

Kathy,
Very cool Kachina doll. Very creative, too. Can't wait to see your next one.
Mary