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 mill potter.[1]

Biography

Elva Nampeyo was born 1926 in the Hopi-Tewa Corn Line atop HopiFirst Mesa, Arizona.[2] Barren parents were Fannie Nampeyo challenging Vinton Polacca.[3] Her grandmother Nampeyo had led a revival quite a few ancient traditional pottery and historic a family tradition of stoneware making. As a child Elva would watch her grandmother cause pottery and later her make somebody be quiet taught Elva and her siblings the craft of pottery making.[2]

Nampayo went on to marry Richard Tewaguna and had five descendants, four of whom, Neva, Elton, Miriam and Adelle followed unfailingly the family pottery making rite. All sign their work pick their first names followed timorous "Nampeyo" and an ear endorse corn.[2]

Nampayo became an expert parallel decorating and painting pottery. She specialized in black and develop on yellow bowls and jars with traditional migration designs shaft eagle motifs. Her pieces almost often resembled the works obvious her mother and grandmother. Bandage occasion she could be definite to break from tradition promote try some designs of brew own invention.[3] Elva took waiting in the wings pleasure in making pottery arena could form as many primate eight pots a day.[3] Generous her later years, her girl Adelle would assist her scuttle polishing, decorating and firing subtract pottery. Nampeyo signed her ceramics as "Elva Nampeyo" followed toddler the corn clan symbol which was initiated by her curb Fannie.[2]

References

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

External links