Tewa Clown - Koosa with “Friendly Dog” [SOLD]

Neil David, Sr. is a Hopi-Tewa from the First Mesa village of Polacca. The Hopi-Tewa live at First Mesa and have done so since the arrival of immigrants from the Northern New Mexico pueblo villages in the early 18^th century.  These black and white striped clowns are from the New Mexico Tewa villages but have been assimilated into all the Hopi Mesas. The Hopi-Tewa still speak the Tewa language even after living with the Hopi for centuries. These clowns are the fathers of the katsinas, the purveyors of village mores, and the keepers of tradition.  Although their avowed purpose is to amuse, the direction their humor takes is, as usual, concerned with that which is beyond the accepted Hopi way of life, be it outsiders, neighboring tribes, individuals, or attitudes that seem aberrant to the group.

Neil David is an internationally known artist, admired for his drawings, paintings and katsina doll carvings.  He was a founding member and full-time member of The Artist Hopid, a group of Hopi artists who exhibited their works together.  He is an exceptional artist of paintings and carvings.  His Koosa or Koshari Clowns are favorites of many collectors.  Neil has a wonderful sense of humor and is able to express such in his carvings.

This carving of a Koosa Clown escaping an attack by a “friendly dog” is typical of his treatment of the clowns.  Another favorite Clown of his making is called a Chicken Thief which shows a clown on the ground being dragged by a chicken ahead of him of which he is holding on by just a leg. Neil carves other Katsina dolls but his clowns seem to draw the most attention.

Condition:  this Tewa Clown - Koosa with "Friendly Dog" is in original condition

Provenance: from the estate of Tom Mittler, a former resident of Michigan and Santa Fe who purchased it from Adobe Gallery in 1986

Recommended Reading: Hopi Katsina: 1,600 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf