| We have included biographical information for your information on many of the fabulous Native American pottery artists whose work we offer in our gallery. | |||
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Caroline Carpio |
A Tiwa-speaking native of the Isleta Pueblo in New Mexico, Caroline Carpio (Tiwa name "Sun Tablita") is an extraordinary potter who has been winning awards for her work since 1982, including being selected last year as one of the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts 2000 Fellowship Receipients, a high honor which recognizes the achievement of excellence in the arts. A potter for 18 years, Caroline graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1996 with a degree in Fine Arts. She has also studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe. Caroline's contemporary style is based on traditional methods of pottery making. Her work is handcoiled from natural clays collected and processed by herself. | ||
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Emma Lewis Mitchell |
Emma Lewis-Mitchell was born in 1931 into the Acoma Sky City Pueblo. She is one of the daughters of the world renowned late, Lucy M. Lewis. Emma was around great pottery artists her whole life, however, her greatest inspiration came down from her mother, Lucy. Emma was a self taught artisan, she learned the ancient traditional methods of working with clay by carefully observing Lucy construct her beautiful pottery vessels. Emma chose to continue the long lived tradition of working with pottery, and using the ancient methods passed down to her from her grandmothers because of the importance to keep her peoples traditions alive. Emma gathers her own natural pigments and clays from the clay pits within the Acoma Pueblo. She cleans her clay for impurities by hand, then, she hand mixes, hand coils, hand paints, and uses a traditional firing method to add the finishing touch to her wonderful masterpieces which mother earth has blessed her with. The Lewis family keeps the same patterns and does not move to a contemporary style because it is very important to them to keep alive true traditions and designs of the ancient mimbres people alive. Some of these designs which are replicated are the deer with a heartline, lightning bolt pattern, and the many variations of the mimbres patterns. Lucy was the driving force behind the revival of pottery making as an art in the Pueblo of the Acoma. Emma is also related to Dolores Lewis-Garcia, Carmel Lewis (sisters), and Drew Lewis (brother). | ||
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Joy Navasie |
Joy (originally Yellow Flower) “Frogwoman” Navasie, member of the Kachina Clan, was born in 1919 into the Hopi/Tewa Reservation. She is the daughter of the famous Paqua (original Frogwoman) Naha, who was credited for originating the white slip elegant styled Hopi pottery. Paqua’s trademark was the frog symbol and it was passed down to Joy in 1939. Joy’s frog symbol has long webbed feet, while Paqua’s had short toes. Joy has been using her trademark since the age of 20. Joy is one of the most prolific and finest Hopi potters of today. She learned all the traditional methods of pottery making from her mother. Joy’s career as a potter began in 1935. Joy specializes in traditional styled white slip Hopi pottery. All of the steps used to make her pottery are taught the traditional way, from gathering clay, cleaning, molding, coiling the pottery, slipping, polishing, painting, and finally the outdoor firing with sheep dung. Joy coils many shapes of pottery like: wedding vases, jars, and bowls. Joy taught her family members all of the knowledge that she acquired over the years, so that they may continue the tradition which her mother, Paqua, started back in 1935. Joy signs her pottery with a frog symbol. Joy is related to many famous artist among them are: Burel Naha, Stetson Setalla, (nephews), Sylvia Naha, Fawn Navasie (nieces), Marianne Harrison, Loretta Navasie (daughters), and Charles Navasie (grandson). |
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Mary Singer |
Mary Singer is an artist from the Santa Clara Pueblo and is the daughter of the late Pablita Chavarria (1914-1979) and the aunt of Santa Clara potter Stella Chavarria. Mary was born in 1936 and has been making pottery since 1955. She has won countless awards for her work and has exhibited across the United States. | ||
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Dorothy Torivio |
Dorothy Torivio was born in 1946 into the Acoma Pueblo. She is one of Acoma’s finest potters around today. She travels all over the U.S. demonstrating her skills. She has been making abstract designs on pottery since 1974. Dorothy would observe her Mother, Mary Valley, make pottery at a very young age. However, Dorothy was self taught and did not receive any direct instruction from her. Dorothy specializes in Acoma hand coiled abstract pottery. She got the idea one day, back in 1982, to paint a design and repeat it over and over again on the shape of the pot. Dorothy basically combines the traditional pottery with her own penchant for the kinetic image, and thus creates an eye catching swirl design that contains both radiating and spiral motion. She uses a chewed yucca stalk that she fashions into a brush to paint with. Dorothy breaks off only what she needs so that the plant is not damaged and since it comes from Mother earth, it’s free. Dorothy says “I love the travel and expressing myself about my pottery, it creates inspiration for the younger artists out there.” Among the many relatives Sandra Victorino (niece) is one following her footsteps. Awards: New Mexico State Fair 1999, 2nd and various years; Heard Museum Show; Santa Fe Indian Market; Eighth Northern Arts and Crafts Show; Others too numerous to list. |
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Marcella Yepa |
Marcella Yepa, member of the Sun Clan, is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born into the Jemez Pueblo in 1964. Marcella began working with clay at the age of 19. She was inspired to learn the art of working with clay from her aunt, Alvina Yepa. Alvina shared with Marcella all the fundamentals of hand coiling traditional pottery. She also taught her which hills provided the best clay to work with and special techniques to construct her art. The lucrative aspect also inspired Marcella to become an artisan. However, establishing her own unique style of art gave her a feeling of self worth. Marcella specializes in hand coiled contemporary swirl and melon styled pottery. She gathers her clay and other natural pigments within the Jemez Pueblo. She soaks the clay, grinds it to a powder form, cleans the clay, hand mixes, hand coils, shapes, carves the pottery, polishes her pottery with a stone, and fires her pottery outdoors with cedar chips. She hand coils many shapes and sizes of pottery like wedding vases, ollas, and traditional shapes. She signs her pottery as: M. Yepa, Jemez, or Marcella Yepa, Jemez. She is related to the following artists: Emma Yepa (cousin), and Lawrence Yepa. |
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