DARANCE CHIMERICA (HOPI)

Honoring the old-style tradition of katsina carving, Darance Chimerica will be offering his time-honored carvings at market this year. He’s been working on his carvings for more than 21 years. “Growing up on the Hopi reservation, I have learned the ways of Hopi traditional carving and all the techniques that it entails,” he says. “These techniques include using dry cottonwood root, hand collecting my mineral paints, feathers and using hand woodcarving tools. The dolls that I create are replicas of how I would see them in physical form. The designs and the colors are all symbols that represent all forms of life. Historic markings tell stories of the Hopi. I try to express myself through my carvings, painting and the energy that is put into each doll.”