Tino Youvella, Aholi Katsina carving

Tino Youvella

1941-

Tewa/Hopi Pueblo

Alternative Name

Celestino Youvella

Date

c.1995

Medium Specific

Cottonwood, paint, string

Classification

Sculpture: Wood

Dimensions

9 x 3 x 3 in. (22.9 x 7.6 x 7.6 cm.)

Accession Number

2025.35.28.76

Credit

Gift of Doris M. Lumsden

Memo / Artist Statement

Aholi appears only on Third Mesa and in the company of Eototo during the Powamu Ceremony. Legend has it that Aholi, left behind to fight a rear guard action, later followed Eototo through migrations that took them from Mexico to Utah and from the Colorado River to the Rio Grande and back to their present location on Third Mesa. He wears a multi-colored cloak and tall blue helmet and is often called Eototo's Lieutenant.

Biography

Tino (Celestino) Youvella is the great-grandson of Lela Augah and Preston Talavensi; grandson of Bert Youvella and Belle Augah Humeunse; nephew of Ethel Youvella; son of Pauline Youvella and Roy Youvella; brother of Roberta Youvella Silas; Husband of Geraldine Youvella; father of seven children. Tino Youvella lives at First Mesa in Polacca, Arizona, which is where he was born. He and his wife Geraldine raised four sons and three daughter. His sons are all carvers, too. (Schaaf, G., 2008:332)

Inscription

Tino Youvella, sun motif, Aholi-Chief Kachina's Lieutenant. Hopi-1st Mesa AZ