Nampeyo was born in a Hopi village called Tewa in Hano in northern Arizona. Her father was named Qotsvema and was from a neighboring village called Walpi. Her mother was named Qotcakao and was from Tewa. Nampeyo's name means "The snake that does not bite." Nampeyo became a member of her mother's clan as was tradition and her husband was expected to join her. Nampeyo married twice, but her first marriage was annulled, because her husband never came to live with her. She married Lesou in 1881, and they had four daughters and one son. Nampeyo learned how to create pottery from her paternal grandmother. She learned how to make large water carrying vessels called ollas as well as seed jars, bowls, and large storage jars. Nampeyo transformed vessels that would otherwise be considered utilitarian into art with the polychrome designs that she created on them.

To make the vessels, clay was softened using water. Clay was rolled into a ball and pounded into a rounded base. On it, coils of clay were used to build up the wall. The vessel was shaped and smoothed with a rock. A thick slip was applied to the vessel, and it was then painted using a chewed yucca leaf as a brush and brown and red pigments that she made. Nampeyo painted traditional Hopi designs containing symbolism that was important to the Hopis. She went to excavation sites to learn the styles of her ancestors and recreated them in what is called the Sikyatki-revival style. Her vessels were decorated with curving lines, birds, and bird feathers. The vessels were then fired in a kiln made of rocks or sheep dung. Many other potters at this time had ceased to spend time on painting detailed designs on their vessels considering this insignificant for an everyday object such as a pot.

Nampeyo's skill and hard work ethic set her apart from other potters in the area. She was able to sell her work at the Kearns Canyon Trading Post. Nampeyo had her first exhibition in 1898 at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois. After Nampeyo found success, she spent time teaching other Hopi women how to create pottery in the same style to help them find success selling their pottery as well. In the later year of her grandmother, Nampeyo completed the pots of her grandmother when she began to have a difficult time. Nampeyo's daughters did the same for Nampeyo as she began to lose her eyesight. The quality and design of her work helped to elevate Hopi Pottery to a recognized art form.

Artist: Nampeyo

Movement(s): Native American, Hopi Pottery

Supplies needed:

clay, clay tools, acrylic paint, brushes, water cup, paper towels

Learning Objectives:

• Students will learn how pottery is an art form.

• Students will learn techniques to build a pinch or coil pot.

• Students will create a design on their pot using acrylic paint.

Essential Questions:

• Why did Nampeyo and other Hopi people create pottery?

• What is pottery used for?

• Is pottery a form of art?

Hook:

Students will be asked to consider how art can be used to share the history of a culture and consider what they might know about other cultures from their art. Students will consider what type of design might share a tradition of their families. What is it? Students will be asked to draw their design.

Description:

The class will be introduced to Nampeyo and examine images of her artwork. Students will be asked to sketch designs that might be meaningful to them. Students will watch a demonstration of the process to create coil pots. Students will receive materials and a plastic bag to store their unfinished pots in. Once pots are completed, students will paint on the designs that they developed.

Sequence:

Day 1: Intro to Nampeyo, reflection on use of designs, creation of a design

Day 2: Intro to creation of a coil pot, receiving of materials, students begin

Day 3: Students complete their pots. Pots are set to be baked or dry depending on the type of clay

Day 4: Students will paint on their designs

Vocabulary:

Nampeyo: A skillful Hopi potter born in 1859 who revived traditional styled Hopi pottery

Vessel: A hollow container

Olla: A large wide-mouthed vessel used for cooking or water or food storage

Scoring: The creation of a rough surface on two pieces of clay that will be joined together

Slip: Clay that has been thinned with water to be used as varnish

Motif: A pattern or design used for decoration

Polychrome: The use of multiple colors

Pigment: A powdered form of color made from materials such as plants