Neil David Sr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Neil David
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| Born | June 4, 1944 Polacca, Arizona, U.S.
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| Nationality | Hopi Tribe |
| Known for | Katsina carving |
| Spouse(s) | Lena Charlie |
Neil Randall David Sr. is a talented American artist and a master at carving katsina figures. He is a member of the Hopi Tribe and is known for his amazing artwork that shares stories about Hopi culture.
Contents
Early Life and Artistic Beginnings
Neil David Sr. was born on June 4, 1944, in Polacca, Arizona. This is located on the Hopi Reservation. Sadly, his father passed away before Neil was six years old.
Learning from Family
Neil's interest in art started very early. His grandparents, Victor (Kawayo) Charlie and Lena (Blue Corn) Charlie, were both artists. Victor carved katsina figures, and Lena was a potter. They inspired Neil a lot.
In 1948, his grandparents were invited to show their art at a big fair in Chicago. The next year, they brought 5-year-old Neil with them. Neil mostly taught himself how to be an artist.
School and First Sales
When Neil was in eighth grade, his art teacher was a famous artist named Fred Kabotie. After finishing school in Polacca, Neil went to high school in Phoenix, Arizona.
While he was still a freshman in high school, Neil sold his very first katsina doll. He sold it to Byron Hunter, who ran a trading store in Polacca. Mr. Hunter saw Neil's artistic talent and encouraged him. He bought many of Neil's drawings, paintings, and carvings, selling them through his store.
A Career in Art
Neil David Sr. joined the US Army in 1965 and served in Germany until 1968. When he returned home, he started painting and carving full-time.
Gaining National Attention
Neil became well-known across the country in 1971. His paintings and katsina carvings were featured in Arizona Highways magazine. This special issue was all about the Hopi katsinas, which are important spiritual figures.
The Artist Hopid Group
In 1972, Neil David Sr. helped start a group of Hopi artists called the Artist Hopid. Other members included Michael Kabotie and Terrance Talaswayma. Their goals were to:
- Help Hopi people feel proud of their culture.
- Teach both Native American and non-Native people about Hopi traditions.
- Record Hopi history and events through art.
The group grew and showed their art in many museums and art centers. In 1976, they even received a special grant that sent 31 of their paintings on a tour across the country.
The "Hopi's Norman Rockwell"
Neil David's art and his strong connection to his Hopi culture allow people to see parts of Hopi life in a special way. He understands his culture deeply and can show realistic scenes of Hopi life, ceremonies, and dramatic katsina dances in his paintings and carvings.
This skill has earned him much praise, and some people even call him "the Hopis' Norman Rockwell." Norman Rockwell was a famous American painter known for his detailed and realistic pictures of everyday life.
Neil David is especially famous for his drawings and carvings of the Koshare clown. The Koshare is a traditional clown figure in Pueblo cultures. Neil uses the funny actions of his clown drawings to tell stories. He is so connected to the Koshare that he once said, "I along with my patrons see me as associated—even infatuated—with this clown [Koshare], which is the subject of so much of my work."
Two of Neil's paintings were chosen for an exhibit called "About Face: Self-portraits by Native American, First Nations, and Inuit Artists." This exhibit was held at the Wheelwright Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico, from November 2005 to April 2006. Both paintings featured his famous Koshare clown along with himself. One painting, Hopi Triple Self-Portrait, was seen as a key image for the whole exhibit.
Neil David Sr. continues to create his paintings and carvings today. He lives on the Hopi Reservation in Polacca, Arizona.
Illustrations and Books
Neil David Sr. has created many illustrations for books.
Kachinas, Spirit Beings of the Hopi
The original 79 paintings that form the basis of the book Kachinas, Spirit Beings of the Hopi are now owned by Dr. Yasutada Kashiwago. These paintings are part of the Kashiwagi Museum collection in Japan.
Other Illustrated Works
Neil also drew all the pictures for Eric Bromberg's book, The Hopi Approach to the Art of Kachina Doll Carvings. Another book, Neil David's Hopi World, is a collection of over 40 of his pen and ink drawings. These drawings show his unique view of Hopi history and culture.
Recognition and Awards
In 2005, Neil David Sr. received the Arizona Indian Living Treasures AILTA award. This award celebrates the amazing achievements of Native American people in Arizona throughout their lives.
In November 2013, Neil was invited to Germany to give talks and show his artwork. He visited several museums and galleries there. A documentary film about him, called Neil David Sr., A Smiling Hopi, was shown at a film festival in Germany in January 2014. This festival was organized by UNICEF and other film institutes.
