Artisans

Milton Howard is a master Kachina carver.  Born  Feb 8th, 1964 in Tuba City, Arizona, which is on the Navajo-Hopi Reservation.  He took up carving as a child learning from family members.  He was not serious about it until he lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico.     At the time, he was in school training to become an electrician.  He sold his Kachina dolls to classmates, carving for orders only.  He moved to Phoenix, and began working with a cousin. He refined his style, and in the process met some gallery owners who liked the extremely detailed quality of his work.  He made the decision to carve full time, and his works can be foundin galleries worldwide.  Each kachina has great detail symbolizing his Native American cultural beliefs, and the extraordinary craftsmanship speaks for itself!   No wonder so many folks start collections of Milton's pieces!  Milton is constantly carving different dolls.  Please bookmark his section in our site.

Malcolm Howard is Milton's son.  His father taught him carving and he has elements of his father's influence, yet his works are different.   We expect great things from him.

Travis Boyd is a Hopi Native American Indian Artist Travis Boyd apprenticed under Milton Howard.  Travis makes superb mini kachinas.

Conrad Torivio is a Hopi artist who specializes in traditional wall kachinas.  His dolls look great alone or in a group.

Kevin Sekakaku is another Hopi artist specializing in traditional wall kachinas. These dolls are gven to children at birth and are used to teach them about Hopi spiritualism and life lessons.

Neil David , Sr. lovingly creates the most mischievious clown kachinas.  He is a Hopi-Tewa from First Mesa.  He is an accomplished artist, kachina doll carver, painter and lithographer.  He lives in Polacca and is involved in the religious and social activities of his tribe.

Cecil Miles is an interesting fellow.  Cecil was born in Winslow, Arizona into the Red Streak Tobacco Clan.  He is Navajo and learned to carve in the Hopi's traditional way using cottonwood roots. How did this happen? Cecil is a Navajo who was taught carving by a Alvin Navasie, a Hopi. Cecil lived next door to Alvin. Alvin's dog would come and visit Cecil. Time after time, Cecil would dutifully bring the dog back over to his neighbor's home. Alvin was grateful, and in appreciation for Cecil's kindness, he offered to teach Cecil Hopi carving as thanks.  Cecil already had a passion for wood working as he was a fine interior carpenter and cabinet maker. He accepted the offer...and the results speak for themselves. The attention to detail in his work is truly amazing. Each feather has been carefully detailed on our Navajo warrior kachina. The clothing...leggings, skirt eyelets, animals heads on the base...all with terrific detail.

Richard Gorman, Sr. creates extraordinary Shalakos. He is from the First Mesa Polucca, Coyote Clan. Richard has ties to both the Navajo and the Hopi tribes. His mother was a Hopi and his father a Navajo. Both the Navajo and the Hopi consider children to be born into the mother's tribe, clan, and family. There are many famous Navajo Gormans, especially Richard's great uncle on his father's side, Carl Gorman, who was the noted Navajo code talker from WWII. Richard spent 4 years in the army, including a tour of duty in Germany. The Bavarian wood carvers works caught his eye, and he began to envision a future as a carver, although currently he is better known for his paintings. His work has been influenced by both of his cultural backgrounds: the Hopi and the Navajo.

Westley Begaye is a full blooded Native American Indian born in 1965. He is part of the Navajo nation. Westly married into the Acoma Pueblo, his wife Marie Francis Vallo taught him the fundamentals of handcoiling Acoma styled pottery. His other inspiration was Jerome Tiger, a Native American artist from Oklahoma. Tiger is a fine painter. Westly had been working with art since age 12, but pottery only since 1994. Westly specializes in the handmade and hand painted Acoma style pottery, however, he adds a contemporary flair to his pottery designs. He paints many traditional designs, for example, Kokopelli, animals, etc. He works with handmade pottery and ceramic pottery. Westly's experience crossing cultures enables him to create with a fresh/contemporary eye, taking thetraditional of the past and bringing it into the present day with a twist...spicing it up. His creativity has established him as a fine artisan. He signs his pottery as: Westly Begaye, title of the pottery, and the year when it was constructed. He is related to Arthur C. Begaye, who is a Navajo painter.

Storyteller Artists

Lucero is a Navajo artist who makes storyteller pottery.

Mary Quintana is a Navajo artist who makes storytellers.

Eva Bitonie is a Navajo who makes more traditional storyteller pottery.

Cheyenne Jim creates modern storytellers.

Native American Indian Southwestern Art

Milton Howard, Hopi Kachina Doll carver extraordinaire, Kashari Kachina carver Larson Chapella, Old fashioned carved wall hanging Kachina dolls by Kevin Sekakaku, modern traditional wall kachinas by Conrad Torivio.  Additionally there are Renanita, Julie Loley, and Kimberly Yazzie, Navajo artists who create amazingly beautiful and detailed Navajo kachina dolls. Clay Storytellers by Lucero, Mary Quintana, Eva Bitonie, and Cheyenne Jim. Unique pottery by Westley Begay or M & R Romero.  We also have other handmade Indian decor such as a peace pipes, Blackfeet warrior wall hanging  (light this one right and it is a magnificent wall sculpture piece...no two identical.),  artifact reproductions, and Indian Masks.   Extraordinary pieces from the past brought into the present...create a truly unique space in your home, office, or conference room.  Each piece is unique.

PORSCHE...the essence of speed and beauty of design melded into one.  Please see our scale models by Maisto, Minichamps,Gateway Global, and Burago.

BJ Imports USA will be donating a percentage of our sales to the Freedom Alliance to support the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund. Please click here or visit www.FreedomAlliance.org for more information.

We sell with Integrity.

8/27/2008   Return to Top   Printable

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