Gwen Setalla
{{Short description|Hopi ceramic artist}}
Gwen Setalla (born 1964) is a Hopi ceramic artist. She was born into the Setalla (Navasie) family of multi-generational Hopi potters and kachina carvers.{{cite news |last1=Roth |first1=Todd |title=Setalla siblings demonstrate Hopi pot firing at Homlovi |url=https://www.nhonews.com/features/setalla-siblings-demonstrate-hopi-pot-firing-at-homlovi/article_f2d88aaf-d4c5-5f4b-91f5-95e33ee4f60f.html |access-date=17 February 2025 |publisher=Navajo-Hopi Observer |date=1 February 2012}}
Early life
Gwen Sharon Setalla was born of the Bear Clan with the Hopi name of Aȁs-kữ-Mana. She is from the Mishongnovi village on Second Mesa of Hopi pueblo. Her parents are Pauline and Justin Setalla who are from the Frog Woman and Feather Woman families. Setalla began making ceramics at 5 years of age, learning from her mother who also was a potter.{{cite web |title=Gwen Setalla |url=https://www.adobegallery.com/artist/Gwen_Setalla148714633 |website=Adobe Gallery |access-date=17 February 2025}}
Work
Her ceramic pots and tiles are made from clay dug in the Keams Canyon region of Arizona; the objects are then painted with a mixture of locally sourced mustard greens and powdered hematite to create permanent black designs on the surface of the clay. They are then pit fired in the traditional manner using dried sheep dung.{{cite web |title=Hopi Artist Workshop |url=https://univmuseum.nmsu.edu/pages/research/hopi-artist-workshop.html |website=New Mexico State University Museum |access-date=17 February 2025}} The surface designs are informed by the patterns used on pottery shards found in the area of Awatowi village and Kawikaa village.{{cite web |title=Potters: Gwen Setalla Potter, Hopi |url=https://www.grandcanyon.org/protect-grand-canyon/projects/cultural-demonstration-potters |website=Grand Canyon Conservancy |access-date=17 February 2025}}
Collections
Her work is included in the permanent collections of the Michael C. Carlos Museum,{{cite web |title=Gwen Setalla Native American, Hopi Pueblo, born 1964 |url=https://collections.carlos.emory.edu/people/23368/gwen-setalla |website=Emory: Michael C. Carlos Museum |access-date=17 February 2025}} Heard Museum,{{cite web |title=Gwen Setalla |url=https://5019.sydneyplus.com/Heard_Museum_ArgusNET_Final/Portal.aspx?lang=en-US |website=Heard Museum |access-date=17 February 2025}} the Maxwell Museum,{{cite web |title=Object Monday: Ceramic Canteen by Gwen Setalla |url=https://maxwellmuseum.unm.edu/maxwell-at-home/objects/object-monday-ceramic-canteen-gwen-setalla |website=The Maxwell Museum of Anthropology |access-date=17 February 2025}} the Peabody Museum, and the Smithsonian Institution.{{cite web |title=Canteen |url=https://americanindian.si.edu/collections-search/object/NMAI_282238 |website=Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian |access-date=17 February 2025}} In 2011 the Setella family was were inducted into the Arizona Culture Keepers Hall of Fame.{{cite web |title=The Setalla Family |url=https://www.petrifiedforestbookstore.com/the-setalla-family/ |website=Petrified Forest Museum Association |access-date=17 February 2025}}
References
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External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPOsapjdTns Interview with Gwen Setalla]
Category:Native American women artists