Zuni Pueblo Katsina Night Ceremony [SOLD]

Hopi-Tewa artist Raymond Naha was born in the village of Polacca, which is at the foot of First Mesa, on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona on December 5, 1933. He studied under Fred Kabotie at Oraibi High School. Kabotie recognized Naha's talent and encouraged him to continue his studies. Naha then took correspondence courses and studied at the Phoenix Indian School. His paintings are characterized by the depiction of details of pueblo ceremonial life in a vibrant and colorful manner.

Naha is best known for his ability to paint even the smallest aspects of pueblo ceremonial life in the most exquisite detail. Feathers, green bough, sashes, kilt embroidery and other costume details are exquisitely executed. He was exhibited widely and won numerous awards including the Indian Arts Fund in Santa Fe in 1962. He died in 1975 at the age of 42.

Clara Lee Tanner devoted several pages on Naha in her book referenced below.  She refers to his "great natural talent."  She states that Hopi and Zuni Katsinas were a favored subject of his and that they serve as fine ethnological studies from the masks to costume, jewelry, paraphernalia carried by the dancer, and body paint.  She praised him for accuracy of color depiction and good body proportions.

This painting of a group of Zuni Katsinas warming by the fire before or between dances is a good indication of Tanner’s comments regarding Naha’s interest in painting ceremonial scenes and how well he executed them.  His treatment of the flames of the fire with heavy laid on paints is truly exceptional.

Condition:  very good condition.  Re-matted with acid-free materials and placed back in the original brown wood frame.

Provenance: from the Friends of the Commerce (TX) Public Library

Recommended Reading:  Southwest Indian Painting: A Changing Art by Clara Lee Tanner