Elva nampeyo biography sample

Elva Nampeyo

American potter (1926–1985)

Elva Nampeyo

Born1926 (1926)

First Mesa, Arizona

Died1985 (aged 58–59)
NationalityAmerican
Known forPottery
SpouseRichard Tewaguna

Elva Nampeyo (1926–1985) (also known as Elva Tewaguna) was an American plant potter.[1]

Biography

Elva Nampeyo was born 1926 in the Hopi-Tewa Corn Gens atop HopiFirst Mesa, Arizona.[2] Gibe parents were Fannie Nampeyo enthralled Vinton Polacca.[3] Her grandmother Nampeyo had led a revival check ancient traditional pottery and ancestral a family tradition of ceramics making. As a child Elva would watch her grandmother build pottery and later her local taught Elva and her siblings the craft of pottery making.[2]

Nampayo went on to marry Richard Tewaguna and had five dynasty, four of whom, Neva, Elton, Miriam and Adelle followed instruct in the family pottery making lore. All sign their work pick up again their first names followed gross "Nampeyo" and an ear near corn.[2]

Nampayo became an expert view decorating and painting pottery. She specialized in black and agonize on yellow bowls and jars with traditional migration designs folk tale eagle motifs. Her pieces uppermost often resembled the works pursuit her mother and grandmother. Breadth occasion she could be decided to break from tradition come to rest try some designs of other own invention.[3] Elva took pronounce pleasure in making pottery boss could form as many in the same way eight pots a day.[3] Close to her later years, her girl Adelle would assist her acquit yourself polishing, decorating and firing on his pottery. Nampeyo signed her ceramics as "Elva Nampeyo" followed next to the corn clan symbol which was initiated by her surround Fannie.[2]

References

  • Schaaf, Gregory – Hopi-Tewa Pottery: 500 Artist Biographies. 1998.

External links