Mavasta and Kevin Honyouti – The Next Generation
Mavasta Honyouti was born in 1979 and grew up in Hotvela. He currently lives in Tuba City with his wife and four children and teaches eighth grade in Hotvela. Remarkably, carving is a parttime endeavor for Mavasta even though he excels at it. He often works at his art in the evenings and weekends during the school year and full time during his summers off.
Mavasta has never had any formal training in wood-working or carving; instead, he learned from his father, Ron, and uncle, Brian. Mavasta has a B.A. in elementary education from ASU in Tempe. As he was graduating from college he saw a flier recruiting Native American teachers. He decided to apply so that he “could make a difference” and has been teaching Natives ever since. He teaches his classes about Native American peoples and world Indigenous cultures using content not found in textbooks. For example, one of his first lessons to start a school year focuses on the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. He stresses that all students are capable of success and he clearly is a role model in two different realms.
Mavasta’s reverence for culture also comes through in his artwork. He makes several types of carvings including multi-figured katsina sculptures that generally portray diverse aspects of a katsina dance scene. A superb example of a cylindrical, multi-figured carving is shown in his piece Corn Dance, which includes the dance itself, individual katsinam, baskets, katsina carvings, etc. This work won “Best of Classification” at SWAIA in 2015.
Another exceptional piece is Entering the Kiva. This unique carving won “Best of Class” and an “Innovation Award” at the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market in 2018. It’s no wonder this carving was cited for innovation as it has figures carved both inside and out—something I’ve not seen before. Mavasta has a uniquely creative mind.
The youngest of Ron’s children, Kevin (born in 1994) is also showing great promise as a carver. Ron told me he learned to carve katsinam from his father, Clyde. The same can be said for Kevin as to paternal influence. He never took art classes in school. Instead his father was his mentor and guide. Kevin always thought he would become an artist. He told me, “It’s been a clear direction since day one.” He recalls being in his father’s booth at shows as a child and “wanting to be just like him.” He notes that even now that he is an adult they do shows together and are comfortable in each other’s company. An interesting aspect of Kevin’s art is that unlike many other carvers he carves in two “competing” styles. Sometimes he makes katsinam in the sculptural style, like his elegant yet minimalist carving of Angwusnasotaqa or Crow Mother. This katsina has an admirable grace. In contrast, Kevin has rendered the very same katsina in the traditional style. On this carving the feather work makes the katsina eerie and haunting. These are very different versions of the same katsina, indicating Kevin’s artistic range.
For someone who just turned 24, Kevin has done very well in the marketplace. He has won first place ribbons at Tuhisma, the MNA and the Gallup Inter-tribal. And in 2017 he took second place at Santa Fe’s SWAIA show for a sculpture. Despite his commitment to many shows, Kevin also finds time to tend to his traditional Hopi corn fields and he is currently learning to weave Hopi belts. He is a traditional Hopi involved in village activities.