Learn About the Art > About Hopi Kachina Dolls > Jonathan Day Sr.
Jonathan Day, Senior
Jonathan Day, Sr. is featured on pages 80-810 of Gregory Schaaf's publication, Hopi Katsina: 1,600 Artist Biographies (CIAC American Indian Art Series, Volume Seven), along with many examples of his works. He is well known in the kachina collector's market as a highly talented Hopi kachina carver.
He is the recipient of many prestigious awards. In Schaaf's book, one reads: "Jonathan Day is best known for his sculptural style Katsina carvings. 'I like to carve katsinas the way I see them, and I try to be as realistic as I can. Sometimes I sit for a couple of hours thinking about what I am going to make, what kind of stance I want the doll to have, where I saw the Katsina last, and what it was doing in the dance. I have a spiritual feeling for the dolls as I am carving ... I expect the Katsina dolls to come out nice ... The dolls today are a different form of art rather than the traditional Hopi carved doll.' NDN Arts recorded: 'Jonathan was born in the Hopi village of Hotevilla, Arizona. He attended college in California for a while before working as a carpenter. Jonathan decided to return home to the reservation.
He is married with three children. In 1980 he started carving full time. He is known for his ability to bring out the grain of the wood. Sculpture pose is the style he likes to carve because that is the way the Kachinas look when they are dancing. The artist spends time looking at the wood before carving to decide what Kachina would look best and how it will look. He believes that the Kachina has a soul and spirit when it is finished" (81).
He is the recipient of many prestigious awards. In Schaaf's book, one reads: "Jonathan Day is best known for his sculptural style Katsina carvings. 'I like to carve katsinas the way I see them, and I try to be as realistic as I can. Sometimes I sit for a couple of hours thinking about what I am going to make, what kind of stance I want the doll to have, where I saw the Katsina last, and what it was doing in the dance. I have a spiritual feeling for the dolls as I am carving ... I expect the Katsina dolls to come out nice ... The dolls today are a different form of art rather than the traditional Hopi carved doll.' NDN Arts recorded: 'Jonathan was born in the Hopi village of Hotevilla, Arizona. He attended college in California for a while before working as a carpenter. Jonathan decided to return home to the reservation.
He is married with three children. In 1980 he started carving full time. He is known for his ability to bring out the grain of the wood. Sculpture pose is the style he likes to carve because that is the way the Kachinas look when they are dancing. The artist spends time looking at the wood before carving to decide what Kachina would look best and how it will look. He believes that the Kachina has a soul and spirit when it is finished" (81).
