Ryan Gashweseoma - Fine Boxes and Katsinam
Ryan Gashewesoma grew up in Munqapi where he attended the day school. Later, he graduated from Tuba City High School. Ryan dates his artistic development to his early education. He said as early as fourth grade teachers would tell him he had a special knack for art. In terms of katsina carving, Ryan indicated that his uncle and grandfather were major influences on his katsina art.
Ryan is adept at working with wood in a myriad of ways. He works as a builder in the Flagstaff area constructing houses from scratch. He started his business with a friend several years ago. These skills serve Ryan well as he supports his family by building homes and through his art.
Ryan’s skill with wood and art has evolved in diverse ways. For example, Ryan makes exquisitely fine boxes and says he believes he was the first artist to put katsinam on the front of wooden boxes. Ryan uses exotic woods in creating his boxes such as paduk, lacewood and purple heart. Ryan has won many prizes for his boxes at various museums including the Heard, Museum of Northern Arizona, the Autry Museum of the American West and the Eiteljorg Museum. He also has had a booth at Santa Fe’s annual Indian Market for several years.
In terms of his involvement in art, Ryan says currently he spends about 60 percent of his time making katsinam and 40 percent creating boxes. Ryan started making katsina carvings in 2010. Ryan is known for his precise execution in terms of his carving and painting. An example of this is a set of the Hisot (or ancient) katsinam, which Ryan told me he created based on a Jo Mora photograph from 1904. The dolls were precisely carved, with meticulous painting and creative body postures. Also remarkable are the elaborate feather work and headdresses. These pieces are unique and exceptional. Ryan told me he “is kind of OCD about feather work.” He added, “I will do and redo until I’ve mastered it.”
Another of Ryan’s katsinas is an interpretation of an Angwusnasomtaqa or Crow Mother from the 1920s from the Heard Museum. This katsina has an extremely unusual cloud design on the top of her head. Neither Ryan nor I had ever seen this feature on a Crow Mother before.
Ryan is very fortunate to have a large workshop that is detached from his home. Within it he has power tools for working on his boxes and a separate area for katsina making. This space allows him to work on about 20 to 30 boxes and about five katsinam at a time.
Ryan is a modern individual who frequently sells his work via Facebook and Instagram. He indicates that once he posts an item, it often sells in a day or two. He also receives a lot of special orders through these media. I know we all look forward to the next creative expressions from the diversely talented Ryan Gashweseoma.