The Dancing Rabbit Gallery

Kikah Hiwiisikah Snake 9 is the title of this wonderful jar.  Chase hand dug the clay from the Red River and tempered it with ground mussel shells for stability. The ground shell is what makes this jar sparkle. After carving the ancient Caddo designs around the jar, it was pit fired in the traditional manner. Caddo pottery is instantly recognized by archaeologists and collectors alike due to the defining characteristics of very thin walled construction, extraordinary light weight, and a highly polished body.  One other characteristic of this beautiful pottery is the intricate sgraffito patterns of scrolls, cross-hatching and designs that are on the body. This piece has two snakes – the Rattlesnake and the Cottonmouth - wrapped around the body of the jar. These two snakes are integral symbols of the Caddo. Chase makes his pottery in the traditional Caddo way. He collects his clay from the Red River and the Washita River. After he cleans and prepares it for use, Chase tempers his pottery clay with local river mussels, sand, or animal bone, then he hand-coils the clay into form.  Once the vessel is completely dry, it is burnished by wetting areas of the outer surface and rubbing the exterior with a smooth river stone.  Chase does not glaze his pottery, because burnishing results in a highly polished, glossy surface that gives his pots an incredible shine after they are fired. Before firing each piece, he uses an awl to carve scrolls and traditional designs into his pottery. Chase recently won a Best of Class and a second place ribbon for his magnificent pottery at the Cherokee Indian Art Market held in Tulsa in October 2016. His receives ribbons and awards where ever he exhibits. His work is in prominent museums and galleries throughout the United States.

Corn Maiden in Bronze with Parrot feathers Limited edition 6/30 This marvelous maiden depicts the legend of the corn maiden bringing nourishing corn to the people. She taught them how to plant and care for the kernels of corn so they would never be hungry. She is often depicted with a tablita on her head. The back of the bronze illustrates the rain falling on the mountains and kivas providing water so the corn can grow. Each side of the bronze maiden has rivers carrying the water to the crops. This beautiful maiden sits on a revolving walnut base.

Debbie Clashin has become one of the exciting leaders in Hopi pottery in the past few years.  She is known for her large-sized traditionally fired vessels.  This large jar has a wide shape and a slightly turned out neck.  The entire piece is stone polished, and then it is painted with bee-weed and natural clay slips. It is 13” wide and 7” tall. Debbie calls this piece a Hopi Prayer. The design is derived from ancient sikyatki pottery sherds found around one of the mesas of Hopi. According to Debbie, the eagle symbols represent the year for prayer with the kiva steps and splotches representing much needed rain for crops used to feed the Hopi people. Debbie said, “the red color represents the sun providing growth for the corn. The black represents the night, as well as Hopi shrines.” The painting on the jar is delicate and flowing.  The jar is traditionally fired, which creates beautiful blushes across the surface of the jar.   She signs her pieces "Debbie Clashin" with a pipe hallmark below to represent her Tobacco Clan and the date.

Although the subject of David’s paintings is not new, it is his mixture of symbolism and boldness the creates such a beauty and such visceral reactions in viewers. His art is creative and bold, but respectful. In Ganado Red, David once again speaks from his heart with his paint and vivid colors. Color fills the canvas, flowing lightly along the edges and filling the figure in the center. The shades of red, yellow, and blue appeal to David, not only for their presence and vitality, but they also have deep symbolism. Red and blue are the colors of the earth and sky. These colors also represent make and female elements of rain in traditional Navajo mythology. His representational figures are always altered in such a way as to represent his culture, but to never violate Navajo tenets.

This fabulous overlay pendant corn maiden by award winning jeweler Tim Yazzie offers many prayers for rain in her carefully constructed design. Her face is a beautiful cabochon of natural Ithaca Peak Turquoise.  Her tablita and kilt include feathers, corn stalks, and rain symbols. The bottom feathers of this gorgeous overlay pendant are natural Ithaca Peak turquoise inlaid with dolomite and black jade. The feather designs along the bottom of the pendant are a continued prayer for rain. This pendant is 4 ½” x 1 ¼”, and will hang beautifully from a sterling silver collar or chain, or stands of heishi. Tim sees the idea of a design in his mind first, then draws the design free-hand on the sterling silver.  He lets the silver, natural stones, and the other materials that he is using guide his creative process. Using the finest materials, each unique and beautiful, Tim pushes his native pueblo art to new horizons. His work is considered “pueblo style” and features intricate silver overlay work with Southwestern motifs. Tim Yazzie is a silversmith whose beautiful and unique creations y

Among the Pueblo people of the southwest United States, rain and water are vital for life.  Pueblo songs, ceremonies, and dances are about the rain blessings from the Rain Spirits.  Pueblo culture is an agrarian society with reliance on rain. In this beautiful sculpture, Cliff incorporates the symbolism of rain: moisture, clouds, land, mountains, lightning into each of his Rain Spirits. The headdress is half round and represents a rainbow. The macaw feathers represent humidity and warmth as the bird comes from tropical environments. The turquoise heishi (beads) symbolizes not only the color of the sky, but also the lining of the clouds. Cliff laminates various marbles from around the United States and the world to create his majestic Rain Maiden. He listens to the each of the stones as he incorporates the pieces together to tell the story of rain and moisture. This marvelous 15” tall maiden stands on a square base 1” tall.

Absolutely scrumptious natural gem grade Royston turquoise graces the top of this heavy sterling silver cuff. The three large cabochons are expertly fitted into straight edge bezels and are surrounded by heavy sterling twisted wire. The stones, which are one inch and larger, are separated and accented with sterling silver rain drops. All three of these natural turquoise stones and sterling silver accents rest on a heavy splayed four wire shank which is joined at the terminus. This gorgeous cuff weighs 99 grams. Another spectacular cuff from master jeweler, Albert Lee. Dimensions: 5 ½” inside plus a gap of 1 1/8” for a total of 6 5/8”