Aaron Fredericks – Exceptional Sa’lakwtaka – 26″ Tall

This piece is depicted on page 40 of our article on Aaron Fredericks and Shawn Deel in the October/ November 2024 issue of Native American Art magazine.  Aaron’s description tells the complex story of this carving:

“Shalako-taka bringing of the rain storm. Body is the rain shower sweeping across the land from the cumulus cloud which is his headdress, one big cloud. At the bottom of the carving are blended colors for the beauty of the carving. A prayer stick offering to take our prayers up to our creator.”

Aaron describes the materials and process involved, “The headdress is made with pieces of cottonwood slabs tied to a half circle made with reeds, wrapped with cotton string and is secured to his head with 2 willow dowels. I had to drill holes in all the pieces, then tie them to the half circle, before tying everything to each other to hold it together. The kilt is thick material and bound along the edges then whitewashed and painted. Below that I’ve created multiple layered colored yucca leaves which had to be moistened and tied down at the tops then wrapped to secure it around the paako. Once a layer is dry the wrapping is removed before the next layer is added. The necklace is made with purple oyster and turquoise beads plus melon and abalone shell. Prayer feathers are white plums, parrot, grouse, peacock, turkey, and golden pheasant.”

What is especially innovative about this piece is Aaron’s use of colored yucca leaves to represent the eagle feathers on the Sa’lako garment. And by the way, the dyed yucca are scraps from his brother Claudie’s yucca baskets. Important to note is that unlike other Traditional Style examples, this towering 25” katsina is affixed to a base to protect its stability. I bought this artwork directly from Aaron.