Interested in Native American art or know someone who is? Our Assistance League Thrift Shop currently has for sale an original sculpture by the Navajo artist Wilbert Kady for $750.

Here is some background information about the artist and his sculptures.

“Sculptures by Navajo artist, Wilbert Kady (‘Kay-dih’) reflect his Native American world realistically, but they also possess the subtle ability to immerse the viewer in the spiritual dimension of the subject.

His subjects are the people and animals that were part of his life. “Chief Running Bear” is a two-color sculpture of a kneeling figure, his hands clasped together, his long white hair falling to his chest and crowned with a full-feather headdress. His is the image of a respected elder. “Eagle Spirit” is a compact sculpture made of purple striped alabaster, the face of a man with an eagle’s face emerging from his right side. The man’s long hair is pleated so that it begins to look like a robe folding in neat lines from his face over his shoulders while at the same time turning into the eagle’s wings and body. Simplicity of concept yet encompassing so much more about the role of an eagle and that of a man.

Kay-dih sculptures are made in alabaster. He admits, “My first impression when looking at a raw piece of rock is asking myself ‘what in the world can I make out of this?’” That statement reminded me of Michelangelo’s approach to his sculptures. He worked 400 years ago in Italy, thousands of miles away, at a time when the New World was but a dream to the west. When he found a marble of a particular size and quality, he looked at it as though he could see the figure that he wanted to sculpt emerging from that block of marble. The results were legendary. The same may be said of Kay-dih’s sculpture. The scale is smaller for Kay-dih, but the inspiration and relative magic that he imbues his sculptures brings them the breath of life.”

He signs his sculptures with his grandfather’s Indian name “Kay-dih,” which translates into “the last born in his family.”

If you are interested in purchasing this sculpture or know someone who is, please contact the shop by phone (612-866-2135) or stop by the shop when it is open for business.