RAYMOND NAHA FROM CEREMONIAL’S LOST HALL OF FAME
H
opi-Tewa Raymond Naha (1933-1975) was the son of Neil Naha (of Polacca, Arizona) and the great potter, Daisy Naha Hooey Nampeyo. He learned the elements of art from Fred Kaboti at Oraibi High School, then moving on to Phoenix Indian School. In the late thirties, Daisy moved to Zuni—Ray stayed with his father. Over the years Ray went back and forth between Hopi and Zuni. Though Ray painted what he knew, the katsinas for example, he put his own personal stamp on everything. Typically, he did not work as a simple realist. He built amazing figures based on the ceremonials he knew. At a time when Indian artists were being pushed to do “Indian” art, Ray was unusual in throwing humor into his art and sometimes an otherworldly execution. He preferred to work in casein, but he also worked in oils, pastels, inks and acrylics. Likewise, he painted on a number of medias from paper to canvas.
RAY NAHA 1933-1974.
Though Ray often used katsinas and actual ceremonies for the basis of his works, he would play with certain things, often feathers or clothes and even masks.
His wife, Alberta, was a White River Apache. Many of their children became artists.
AN OGRE DISRUPTS CLOWN PLAY.
A FANCIFUL OWLOWL KATSINA. A FANCIFUL KATSINA.
