Native American Navajo Made Clowns, Owl and Mudhead Kachina Dolls up a Tree

Description

Native American Navajo Made Clowns, Owl and Mudhead Kachina Dolls up a Tree by Alfred Benally

The Clown is a very popular Kachina, he is easily recognized when painted with horizontal black and white stripes over his entire body. He is usually shown in a humorous pose, gorging on watermelon or some other food. There are many varieties of this Kachina.

The Owl Kachina is beneficial to agriculture because he destroys harmful rodents. He symbolizes intelligence, wisdom and a good hunt. He is best known for his interactions with the Clown Dancers. The Owl's primary function is one of amusement for the audience during pauses in Kachina dancing or as a leavening for the seriousness of a major ceremony. Oftentimes there is an object lesson on improper behavior or a social commentary present in their skits and actions. The Owl carefully watches the Clown Dancers' poor behavior with strong disapproval. When the Clown Dancers are finished performing, the Owl Kachina whips them with yucca blades to punish them.

The Mudhead is one of the most well-known Kachinas. He is reddish-brown and is said to have been painted with mud from the bottom of a sacred spring. Mudheads play many different roles; dancers, drummers, announcers, singers and clowns. These Kachinas primary function is one of amusement for the audience during pauses in Kachina dancing or as a leavening for the seriousness of a major ceremony. Oftentimes there is an object lesson on improper behavior or a social commentary present in their skits and actions. Alfred does these WONDERFUL figures all perched in a tree and always one on a swing.