Grace Chapella

Grace Chapella (1874–1980[1]) was a renowned Hopi-Tewa potter from a Tewa village and of the Bear Clan.[2]

Early life

As a small child, Chapella learned pottery techniques from her mother, TaTung Pawbe and from her neighbor Nampeyo.[3] Her father, Toby Wehe, was a traditional farmer.[3]

Art career

In the early 20th century, Chapella sold her pottery at the trading post established by Tom Polacca who was also a Tewa from First Mesa.[3] Tom Polacca first encouraged her to sign her work.[3]

Chapella was the subject of study by anthropologist Gene Weltfish.[3] Her artwork is part of the permanent collection of the Brooklyn Museum.[4]

Personal life

In 1927, Chapella became the first Hopi to travel by airplane, when she flew to a pottery demonstration.[5]

From 1917 to 1955, Chapella worked as the cook for the Polacca Day School.[3] In 1955 when Grace retired, the school personnel gave her a water spigot for her yard. At that time, plumbing was not common in Polacca, and Grace was the first person to have running water available at a private home.[3]

Several of her descendants also became potters.[6]

References
  1. Allan Hayes; John Blom; Carol Hayes (3 August 2015). Southwestern Pottery: Anasazi to Zuni. Taylor Trade Publishing. pp. 23, 74, 82. ISBN 978-1-58979-862-5.
  2. Stewart B. Koyiyumptewa; Carolyn O'Bagy Davis (2009). The Hopi People. Arcadia Publishing. p. 109. ISBN 978-0-7385-5648-2.
  3. "Grace Chapella (1874-1980) - Arizona Women's Hall of Fame". Arizona Women's Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2017-09-01.
  4. "Brooklyn Museum". www.brooklynmuseum.org. Retrieved 2017-09-01.
  5. "Grace Chapella - Pueblo Pottery". Adobe Gallery, Santa Fe. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  6. Rick Dillingham (1994). Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery. UNM Press. pp. 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 13. ISBN 978-0-8263-1499-4.


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