Manuel Denet Chavarria, Jr., Kowako (Chicken) Katsina carving
Manuel Denet Chavarria, Jr.
1964-
Tewa/Hopi Pueblo
Date
2000
Medium Specific
Cottonwood, paint, feathers, yarn, wool.
Classification
Sculpture: Wood
Accession Number
2025.35.28.72
Credit
Gift of Doris M. Lumsden
Memo / Artist Statement
Chicken (Kowako) is definitely post-Spanish and probably does not date much before 1850. There are folktales about the chicken and how he lost his girlfriend to the Mockingbird Katsina. He appears most often during Palolokong or the Winter Kiva Dances. Most of his appearances seem to be more comical, as though this Katsina may have first appeared as a Piptuka. (A sub-group of the clowns that are improvised only a night or two before their appearance in the dance. Any individual may appear as a Piptuka.)
Biography
Manuel Denet Chavarria Jr. is from First Mesa. He began carving at the age of thirteen and carved mostly Corn Katsinam. He grew into carving the contemporary-style Katsinam and now carves the New Traditional-style Katsinam and was the first contemporary carver to make them look weathered and old. He has received numerous awards and ribbons for his katsina carvings and has exhibited widely since 1991.
Inscription
Butterfly pictorial