Bio:
Local Tucson artist, Earl Dino Patterson Jr. (Sunaweuma) is Hopi and Navajo from Hotevilla (Third Mesa) in northeastern Arizona on the Hopi reservation. His tribal clan is Roadrunner and Greasewood. Dino was taught to carve Hopi Katsina dolls by his brother and brother-in-law and has been carving for over 30 years. He is an award winning artist.
From The Artist: "The word Katsina means "spirit" for every living entity in this world. The sun, the moon, the earth, the stars, plants, animals, and even certain mountains, all have spirits that are represented in Hopi culture and ceremonies. All the katsinas that are carved by Hopis are carved with cottonwood root. Each color represent something in life. The red represents female, yellow represents the male, blue represents the water and sky, black represents negative, and white represents the positive/goodness."
Awards:
- March 2024 - First Place in Sculpture Division, Heard Museum Indian Market
- September 2023 - First Place in Sculpture Division, Prescott Indian Market
- August 2023 - First Place in Sculpture Division, 101st Annual Santa Fe Indian Market
- September 2022 - Second Place in Pueblo Carvings, Prescott Indian Market
- August 2022 - First Place in Sculpture Division, Santa Fe Indian Market
- September 2021 - Third Place in Sculpture Division, Prescott Indian Market
- March 2021 - Zuni Breeze - Second Place Ribbon in Pueblo Carvings, Division B, Contemporary carved figures, 63rd Annual Heard Museum Guild Indian Art Fair and Market
- March 2015 - The Gambler - First Place in Contemporary Carved dolls at the Heard Museum Indian Market
- August 2014 - Frog Days of Summer - Honorable Mention, Santa Fe Indian Market
- February 2014 - White Bear - Award of Excellence in Katsina Carving at the Southwest Indian Art Fair presented by the University of Arizona, Arizona State Museum
- February 2013 - Warrior Maiden - Award of Excellence in Katsina Carving at the Southwest Indian Art Fair presented by the University of Arizona, Arizona State Museum
- February 2012 - Frog Katsina - Award of Excellence in Katsina Carving at the Southwest Indian Art Fair presented by the University of Arizona, Arizona State Museum