HOPI POTTERS

The art of making pottery is an ancient art that has been produced since the time of beginning. The tradition of making pottery is usually passed from mother to daughter, and to family members. The females are usually the predominate potters.

The following potters are mostly from First Mesa. All pottery ingredients are made from the mother earth and are done in the old traditional method. Should there be work from a specific person you are interested in, please feel free to inquire for these special orders.

1. Agnes Nahsonhoya, Bear Clan, Sichomovi Village. I was born in the Snow Bird Canyon, I have been making pottery for the past 20 years. I learned to make pottery from my mother (Pauline Setalla). She in turn, learned from my aunt Eunice Fawn Navasie. I make natural colored pottery, my designs are thunder bird, rain, snow, stars and other symbols of Hopi. All my pottery is done traditionally from start to finish.
2. Sandra (Nash) Dawangyumptewa, Tobacco and Rabbit Clan, Walpi. Full Hopi. I learned pottery making from my grandma and mother. I do fine painting and do small potteries. I make egg seed pots and pots with square rims on the opening, and medium turtles. I work with yellow and gray clay.
3. Nona Naha, Corn Clan, Hano Village. Hopi and Tewa. I have been potting for 6 years, my main teachers come from the Feather Woman family. I have learned the basics from Rainy Naha, which is molding, sanding, polishing and with her help painting. As time went on I have learned by watching Feather Woman and Sylvia Humphery.
4. Roberta Silas, Kachina and Parrot Clan, Lower Polacca. Tewa and Laguna. I learned to make pottery at the age of 21 years old. I had no teachings from any of my relatives and cousins, my practice came by helping Feather Woman. I would help by sanding and polishing her pottery. I started by getting my own clay and by molding, this I had experienced when I helped Feather Woman prepare her mud. At first I use to hide my work from people till I got caught by my husband, and I had to explain why I was not telling anyone, I was trying to do something that I was doing on my own and I felt guilty and forbidden. Because, I did not have anyone to consult me and this made me feel uneasy. I use to send my pottery to Northern Arizona Museum in Flagstaff, Arizona. My pots have won numerous awards and today they are collector items. Collectors come at all times of the day to buy and visit with me. I have design my own style and pattern of painting, now it is used by all of my daughters, six of my eight daughters now make pottery. I am helping and encouraging them to do more work. I would like this new method of marketing successful for all of us.
5. Antoinette Silas, Kachina and Parrot Clan, Tewa Village. At 15 years of age I went to demonstrate at Bloom Field, Indiana University. I learned to make pottery from my mother Roberta Silas. Some designs I use are inherited from my mother and some I have developed myself. I ship a lot of my pottery to Jackson Hole Wyoming. I have won ribbons and awards at the Northern Arizona Museum, which have help my sales and increase in prices. I also market my products to collectors. I want to tell the world that everything is done with traditional native products and that it is very labor some. For these reasons I would like to get paid more for my work.
6. LouAnn Silas, Kachina and Parrot Clan, Sichomovi Village. At the age of 9 years old I mold my first two vase. At the age of 16 I started to paint my own pots, all along I was getting coaching from my mother Roberta. I follow the style and patterns which my mother has taught me, I am thankful for what she has done for me. I sell most of my pottery to tourist here on the Mesa. I would like to see the world through this marketing, I have never gone far from the reservation. I hope to broaden my market and get my value in what I put into my pottery. Every thing done in the process is done traditional and it is hard work.
7. Venora Silas, Kachina and Parrot Clan, Lower Polacca. Hopi, Tewa and Laguna. I have been making pottery for about 15 years, I have learned everything from my mother Roberta Silas. I use to watch and help her, till I got brave to try my own. I have learned since, now I do my own, plus I also help my friend do Nampeyo type of pottery. So now I am learning two different styles of pottery. Everything on my pottery is naturally made and it comes from mother earth. I enjoy working with mud and plan to keep on making more.
8. Arnette Silas, Kachina and Parrot Clan, Lower Polacca. Hopi, Tewa and Laguna. I have now been making pottery for a while, I am getting a lot of help from my mother. I also use her style and pattern of painting. I am working with small to medium size pots. I would like to develop my skills and get a lot of interest in my work. I have a long way to go, but I like what I am doing. I hope this marketing will help me succeed in what I want from life.
9. Clinton Polacca, Corn and Kachina Clan, Lower Polacca. Tewa. I have been making pottery for the last 20 years. I learned from watching my grandmother and aunts. I coil my clay when the pots are being made, everything is done with natural material. I am now proud of what I can make, I also carve Kachina dolls.
10. Miriam Tewayguna, Corn Clan, Tewa Village. I started making pottery at the age of 26 years old. I learned from my mother Elva Tewayguna. I make annual shows at Eight Northern, which has been for the past 11 years. I have never entered any of my pots for prizing. Most of my work is sold to private collectors and a few retail stores. The designs I use are fine-line, four way hanging, eagle-tail and thunderbird. I hope this local marketing will help and reduce my travels on marketing. And to make more income on my pottery. I hope to continue making pottery and broaden my market.
11. Gary E. Polacca, Snow Clan, Lower Polacca. I have been making pottery since 1973. I learned pottery from my father Thomas Polacca, a well known potter. I do etching on my pottery, a style that was introduced by my father in 1974. I etch designs and symbols of my tribe. The designs represent Hopi and stories of our people. I have won numerous awards for my potteries and I sent my pottery around the world. Every pot that I complete takes a part of me, the thoughts and the spirits of my people that are represented.
12. Delaine Tootsie, Roadrunner Clan, Sichomovi Village. Hopi. I started making pottery at a young age. I learned from my grandmother. Designs are from all types of patterns. I have always been independent and have depended upon pottery for my main source of income. All my pots are different, I hardly ever make the same designed pottery. Most of my work is miniature and they make nice souvenir items. All my work is done traditional using all native products. I am interested in traveling and seeing other countries with my pottery. I am still young and hope to make new friends.
13. Sheryl Honanie, Tobacco Clan, Lower Polacca. I have been making pottery for a little while, I started by helping my mother (Donna Mae Adams) and then I started doing my own. I am still learning new things as we work. I am happy and contend with my new skill. I hope my work will continue to progress and hope to do well in this marketing.
14. Stetson M. Setalla, Bear Clan, Sichomovi Village. I was 19 yrs old I when I first started making pottery, my mother Pauline was my mentor.  It started out as a hobby, but today it has become my main source of income.  I give a lot of credit to my mother who was very patient and gave me guidance and love in where I am today.  But most important, pottery making gives me a sense of serenity, self-worth, pride and inner peace with my sole.  As I work my pots, I clear my mind of all bad thoughts by concentrating and praying to my clay.  Good thoughts and a good heart are essential in working with your clay because you are creating yourself in each pot as you coil and when you are ready to paint the pot, a clear mind and good heart is crucial in assisting you with your painting, because the designs flow through your mind into your hand and onto your pot without difficulty.

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Last modified: March 17, 2006