“Rain and Corn Pottery Design” by Honvantewa [SOLD]

"Rain and Corn Pottery Design" is an original painting by Hopi Pueblo artist Terrance Talaswaima. It was completed in 1979, using acrylic paints on canvas. Talaswaima selected a palette of darker tones for this image, and he did so with a keen eye for tastmimeful color combinations.

The image is split into four identically sized quadrants—a common compositional choice in Hopi artworks, often symbolizing the four cardinal directions. Each quadrant is painted a different color, and a larger composition appears over the entirety of the image, unifying the four quadrants. Within this composition, the viewer will find a variety of interlocking geometric elements, corn designs, and prehistoric pottery designs. This is a unique and appealing example of Talaswaima's work.

The painting is signed Honvantewa and dated 79. The canvas is mounted under glass, within a carved wood frame.

Terrance Talaswaima (1939-1988) was a founding member of Artist Hopid in 1973. His Hopi name, Honvantewa, translates to Bear Making Tracks. He was from the village of Shungopavi on the Hopi Reservation. He attended school at the Hopi High School, and then attended the University of Arizona and the University of Northern Arizona. He was a museum director, composer, lecturer, storyteller, Katsina doll carver, and a painter. The artist stated "What I am trying to do with my art right now. . .my first responsibility. . .is to teach people the values of Hopi traditions. I'm into documenting every aspect of Hopi life." Artist Hopid was a subsidiary of the Hopi Arts Crafts Cooperative Guild. It was founded May 18, 1973 by Doochsiwukioma (Delbridge Honanie), Dawakema (Milland Lomakema), Lomawyewesa (Michael Kabotie), Talaswaima, and Neil David, who had lived on the Hopi Mesas most of their lives. By the 1990s, the artists were no longer working as a group.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this "Rain and Corn Pottery Design" by Honvantewa is from the collection of Dr. Lowell Bean, a notable California-based anthropologist, professor, and writer

Reference: Hopi Katsina: 1,600 Artist Biographies by Gregory and Angie Yan Schaaf.

TAGS:  Hopi Reservation, Delbridge Honanie, Michael Kabotie, Neil David, Native American Painting, Delbridge Honanie, Milland Lomakema, Michael Kabotie, Neil David Sr., Terrance Talaswaima