Untitled Painting of a Soyal Katsina [SOLD]

Peter Shelton ( - ) Hoyesva - Wherever the Arrow Lands was born in the Hopi Pueblo village of Oraibi, where he received his early education.  He was also educated at the Santa Fe Indian School.  Though usually recognized as a painter, Shelton was also a carver of Katsina dolls.  That he took a keen interest in Katsina dolls is evident even in his paintings. The dancers featured in his paintings are often depicted in stances like those of Kachina dolls.  They are tall and slender, and are often decorated with a variety of bright colors.  Particular attention is given to the Katsinas’ ceremonial clothing.

This painting of the Soyal Katsina is dated 1963.  This Katsina is an integral part of the Soyal Solstice Ceremony, which begins every year on December 21—the shortest day of the year.  This ceremony—also called “Soyaluna” or “Soyalangwul”—is very sacred to the Hopi people.  Its primary purpose is to awaken the sun from its long winter slumber and celebrate the new life that is to come.

Shelton’s reverence for the Soyal Katsina is evident in the quality of this painting.  His outlines are subtle but strong, and the colors he chose are bright and full of life.  His excellent shading creates texture and dimension, breathing the life of this sacred ceremony into his subject.

Condition: excellent condition
Provenance: from the collection of a resident of California who inherited her mother’s Native art collection
Recommended Reading: Southwest Indian Painting: A Changing ArtPeter Shelton, Jr. (1920-1992) Hoyesva - Wherever the Arrow Lands by Clara Lee Tanner