Product Description
Very finely carved one piece Crow (Angwusnasomtaka) Kachina by Michael Talahytewa. Michael has taken one piece of cottonwood root to carve the dancing figure and has added only the feathers. The one-piece carving includes the base as well.
Michael Talahytewa is an extremely gifted Kachina carver. He carves almost exclusively out of one piece of wood. Michael was born in Tuba City and grew up in Moencopi, AZ on the Hopi reservation where he still resides today. He grew up with his parents, Stacy, Sr. and Louise and his 3 brothers and 8 sisters. Colleen, Bobby and Elsie Talahytewa are also very good carvers. Michael started carving when he was 15 years old. He was inspired by his father who he use to watch carve.
“I began with simple work like piecing on arms, ears, feathers, sashes, etc. I then gradually worked my way up to more complicated dolls with the finest details done by hand. All of my dolls are made from cottonwood root with the feathers, hair, tails, sashes, belts, shoes and yarn all being carved with the finest quality from one piece of wood.”
One-piece carving takes a lot of time, concentration, imagination and patience to create the finest quality by hand. Michael is also very involved with the day-to-day life of the village and the dances. He also works, so he has little time to carve. We feel very fortunate when he comes into the shop with a Kachina and those that buy them feel very fortunate too.
