Fannie Nampeyo Pottery Art

Pleasure and delightenment(to coin a phrase) are the things I feel when I have the pleasure of viewing a piece from the Nampeyo Family Art work. Fannie Nampeyo was the matriarch of a solid line of Hopi Pottery artists specializing in care and meticulous results. She lived between the years of 1860ish-1930ish, exact dates are debatable.1


Hopi Pottery is a form of art originating from the Navajo Nation in the Northeastern Arizona region. What makes this art so special is that it is hand created in an exclusive area called Hano, the Mecca of Hopi Artists. Fannie Nampeyo is praised and famed for founding the method used to create Hopi pottery art which is the unique way of firing the clay to create it's signature smooth orange hue.2


Years of History, perseverance of life and tradition despite often times inhospitable3 conditions have lead to a seamless culmination of soulful art expression in Fannie Nampeyo's art. Her traditions live on through her descendants and their persistent respect for what she's created. Her work has touched many lives of all ages, nationalities and regions to etch a place in our world, beyond the art, as a creative force to inspire many.

Knowing that her handmade work would rival that of any modern technology used to create a smooth refined piece solidifies my belief that , each piece tells a story and in my opinion, holds a bit of the soul and spirit of it's potter.

Sources: 1. http://www.artssouthwest.com/pottery/artists.html 2. http://www.canyonart.com/hopipots.htm 3. Blair M. E., Blair L. A. The Legend of a Master Potter: Nampeyo and Her Decendents

The Arts Supported in Stimulus Bill

“There are five million people who work in the arts industry. And right now they have 12.5% unemployment—or are you suggesting that somehow if you work in that field, it isn’t real when you lose your job, your mortgage or your health insurance? We’re trying to treat people who work in the arts the same way as anybody else.” -Congressman David Obey, The Art Newspaper

This is the sentiment in our new Administration in respect to the Arts World which in my opinion is a fantastic thing. For centuries the Arts have been a respected profession and sought after career, in other nations. Here in the U.S. the sentiment was of it being more of a pass-time or hobby until recent years when major support of Arts foundations and philanthropy rivaled many a political campaign. Making our leaders sit-up and take notice that the Arts isn't just a pass-time but an integral part of our nation and the communities within both urban and affluent.

My question about this Bills range of support is, does it extend beyond the easel and canvas in support of the Literary Arts and alternative Arts? I eagerly await the outcome once these funds have been dispersed.

Another question raised is: “how giving tens of millions of dollars to the National Endowment of the Arts or the Smithsonian Museum will reverse the devastating effects of the economic crisis?” -John McCain, The Art Newspaper;

I eagerly await the outcome. However, in my opinion it's important to show a balanced support of all facets of our culture as a nation because allowing one area to thrive while another errodes would be like unraveling the positive outcome of years of equality struggles with the stroke of a pen.

Art Sculpture?

So many different mediums of art exist and new ones are created everyday. As I walked past a studio last night I caught a glimps of rope, twine, a wooden barrel, paint, smooth and jagged stones. What could this hodgepodge of materials create? Are there more things that I can't see right now? And what message will the artist try to convey? I tried to get into the mind of the artist without meeting them when I saw this unfinished display. My interest was seriously peeked.

At the least I think this person's medium is sculpting because of the wide range of materials. The rustic condition of everything made me think that this person uses material that is available for free aquired while on a walk or happened upon during routine comings and goings. My mind constantly plays with the images of each item like trying to piece a jig saw puzzle together.

I won't try to make sense of them now as I believe the artist's mind and thoughts are like unto the sea and it's waves disapating against a sandy beach. Each wave leaves a unique impression against the sand changed by external forces that we can't control. At the same time I believe creative expression has a destionation whether we are aware of it or not, yet.