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Adrian Curtis Poleahla (Keams Canyon)

Updated: Oct 11

Poleahla was released from jail on August 13, 2010, but failed to contact his family afterward. He had contact with the police in Keams Canyon, Arizona on January 25, 2011; he was reportedly en route to Phoenix, Arizona. He was reported missing on April 30, 2012, a year and a half after his family last heard from him.


Poleahla is a talented wood carver who has sold his kachina figures in art museums. Friends of Poleahla's family reported having seen him selling his artwork at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, but this hasn't been confirmed; the last confirmed contact with him was in January 2011. ~The Charley Project


Some information about Adrian: Adrian Poleahla


ADRIAN C. POLEAHLA


(Hopi )

Adrian is a fine kachina carver, noted for his detailed and realistic figures, often "caught" in action. He has also been able to adapt his level of detail to some small paintings as well.


Adrian Poleahla was born in Keams Canyon, Arizona, and comes from the Corn and Water Clan. He is an accomplished Kachina carver who has been carving Kachinas over thirty years, starting at the age of 5. Adrian also is an artist and his subject is the Kachinas that he knows and loves. He learned carving from his father, John Poleahla, and brothers Irwin, Wayne, Shona, and John Jr. Adrian carves his dolls in the traditional material of cottonwood with precision detail and three dimensional attention to every surface and angle.



ARTIST STATEMENT:

“Every Kachina I do is what I’ve seen in life so therefore I try to make every one real. I have been carving since I was 5 years old. I am very grateful for my talent and for those whose heart my Kachinas have touched.”





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