Helen Naha
Helen Naha (1922–1993) was the matriarch in a family of well known Hopi potters.
Helen Naha | |
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![]() Helen Naha in her home decorating a pot in her Awatovi Star pattern | |
Born | 1922 Polacca, Arizona |
Died | 1993 (aged 70–71) |
Nationality | American |
Known for | Pottery |
Spouse(s) | Archie Naha |
Biography
Helen Naha was the daughter-in-law of Paqua Naha (the first Frog Woman).[1] Helen was married to Paqua’s son Archie.[1] She was mostly self-taught, following the style of her mother-in-law[2] and sister-in-law Joy Navasie (second Frog Woman). Her designs are often based on fragments found at the Awatovi ruins near Hopi.[2] Her hallmark style was finely polished, hand-coiled pottery finished in white slip with black and red decorations.[2] She would often take the extra step to polish the inside of a piece as well as the outside.
She signed her pottery with a feather glyph. This resulted in her being called “Feather Woman” by many collectors.[2] Both of her daughters, Sylvia and Rainy (Rainell), as well as her granddaughter Tyra Naha are well known potters.[2] Today, her medium to larger pots typically sell for several thousand dollars.
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She has been recognized by the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts for her body of work through the creation of the Helen Naha Memorial Award - For Excellence in Traditional Hopi Pottery.[2]
Naha was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[3]
See also
- Potter Tyra Naha, her granddaughter
References
- "Helen Naha - Feather Woman - Hopi Pueblo Artist". Southwest Pueblo Indian Pottery. Holmes Museum Of Anthropology. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
- "Naha, Helen "Featherwoman" (1922 - 1993)". King Galleries. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
- Oman, Richard G. (1992), "Artists, Visual", in Ludlow, Daniel H (ed.), Encyclopedia of Mormonism, New York: Macmillan Publishing, pp. 70–73, ISBN 0-02-879602-0, OCLC 24502140
- Dillingham, Rick. Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery. Foreword by J. J. Brody. University of New Mexico Press, (reprint edition) 1994. ISBN 0-8263-1499-6
- Graves, Laura. Thomas Varker Keam, Indian Trader. University of Oklahoma Press, 1998. ISBN 0-8061-3013-X
- Pecina, Ron. Hopi Kachinas: History, Legends, and Art. Schiffer Publishing Ltd. 2013. ISBN 978-0-7643-4429-9 pp. 163–166.
- Schaaf, Gregory. Hopi-Tewa Pottery, 500 Artist Biographies. Edited by Richard M. Howard, CIAC Press, Santa Fe, New Mexico, ISBN 0-9666948-0-5