Darance Makwesa Chimerica Unerring Tradition
Darance Makwesa Chimerica (Hopi spelling “Tismoqa”) was born in 1979. Darance is in many ways a very traditional Hopi. Although he lives in a new home with electricity, plumbing and even solar panels, he is very ceremonially involved in his village and is serious about his traditional Hopi farming. He also raises a herd of cattle with his relatives.
His emphasis on Hopi tradition pervades how he makes katsinam. He is a traditional style carver. He always starts with a douma (white clay) undercoat. He also uses natural pigments exclusively.
Darance’s carving style has evolved over time. For example, in one of his earlier carvings, a male Havasupai katsina or Koninkatsintaqa, has a much smaller body and tiny feet. His more recent katsina, the rarely seen Tewa Pohaha or Four Horn, is the work of a confident, established artist who knows his craft; the smaller example is the work of “an artist as a young man.” Yet even in the early example signature aspects of Darance’s work are evident, including precise wood carving, careful painting and a fine eye for coloration.
Regarding his work Darance simply states, “I would say my carvings remind me of how things are supposed to be in physical form.”
Because I have known Darance for several years, I felt I could ask him a blunt question: “How have you been able to avoid the chaos, poverty and substance abuse that can be so common on Hopiland?” Darance replied, “It’s because of my upbringing. My parents were strong role models, both have jobs and are successful. They didn’t drink. And they disciplined us.” He added that his involvement in Hopi tradition is also key. He said he realized after graduating from high school in Tuba City that more schooling was not for him. He said he was drawn back to Hopiland, that “when something is going on in the kiva, I want to be there.”
While Darance values being able to work at home and be with his children every day, he also has traveled extensively. He has participated in shows in California, New York, Indiana, Massachusetts and New Mexico. He also has traveled to Japan twice.
Darance is one of the most consistent, artistically pleasing, traditional style carvers. His work is instantly identifiable with no need to look for a signature. His values are reflected in every carving. He is adept at dealing with those in the art world in part because he is such a centered and focused individual. He knows who he is and he knows where he’s going. Wouldn’t we all like to be able to say the same?