Left Handed Katsina by Richard Gorman 1st Mesa

Description

Richard Gorman, (1962) resides near Holbrook, AZ.   Although he is welcome in both the Hopi and Navajo he is considered Hopi not Navajo.  Measurements are from base to top of head 12", base to top of bow is 12.25", circumference of base is 11.75" and approximately 4.5" across.
Richard's mother, Clara Pahoema, is Hopi and his father Bobby Gorman is Navajo.   Both the Hopi and Navajo consider children to be born into the mother's tribe, clan and family.   Because of Gorman's last name Richard is often erroneously identified with the well known Navajo artist R.C. Gorman.   There does not appear to be a relationship, even though when asked, Richard states that he is unaware of any.  Richard's great uncle on his fathers side is Carl Gorman, the noted Navajo code talker from World War II.   Likewise R.C. Gorman's father is also a famous code talker named Carl Gorman. He was born April 20, 1962 in Kearns Canyon, AZ and raised on first Mesa, Polacca, AZ.   Richard had little interest in art until his stint in the US Military.  In his early years he was a bit of a wild rebellion however during his four years in the army he spent a tour of duty in Germany where he saw the work of Bavarian carvers.   This had a profound effect on him and he began to envision his future as a carver after the military.   He states his influence is both from Hopi and Navajo and from his carver friend and painter Neil David, Sr.  Richard is better known by collectors for his paintings and relies on them for a more consistent source of income because it allows him more freedom to experiment and create and doesn't take as long as carving which makes his Katsina's more and more scare/rare and increasing in value.  He has shown his works at the Pueblo Grande Museum, Heard Museum, Eitelijoge Museum, Native American Film Festival in San Francisco, Kansas Indian, Market, White Mountain Native American Art Festival and the Gallup Ceremonial.  He has won many awards for both paintings and Katsina carvings.  This 18 year old carving is a very nice detailed museum quality piece that was purchased, went into a box and stayed never being displayed.