Helen Naha

Helen Naha (1922–1993) was the matriarch in a family of well known Hopi potters.

Helen Naha
Helen Naha in her home decorating a pot in her Awatovi Star pattern
Born1922 (1922)
Polacca, Arizona
Died1993 (aged 70–71)
NationalityAmerican
Known forPottery
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.

Helen Naha Feather Woman with traditionally made Hopi coiled pot, painted and fired with original geometric designs on here three-dimensional pottery

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

References
  1. "Helen Naha - Feather Woman - Hopi Pueblo Artist". Southwest Pueblo Indian Pottery. Holmes Museum Of Anthropology. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  2. "Naha, Helen "Featherwoman" (1922 - 1993)". King Galleries. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  3. 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
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