Emma Yepa
Jemez Whirlwind
7 1/4"
H x 5" D
Emma Yepa was born into the
Coyote Clan of the Jemez Pueblo in 1965 and began potting at
he age of 13. Emma is known for working with stone polished redware,
tanware, some incised work and melon swirl pots and seed pots.
She digs her clay from the Jemez Reservation and uses all natural
slips.
She carries on the cultural
tradition of pottery making that was passed along from her grandmother
to her mother, and then to her. Emma is proud of her origins
from Walatowa, which means "The Place." For Emma, pottery
making is a way of continuing the traditions of her people and
communicating about her life through her unique artistic ideas.
She currently resides in Jemez Pueblo with her two daughters
and son.
Emma was taught by her mother
Ida Yepa. It is only in recent years, however, that Emma has
begun to do swirled melon pots. Emma's aunt, Alvina Yepa, is
another well known Jemez potter (on her father's side). Emma
has won awards at the Red Rocks Arts & Crafts Show near Jemez
Pueblo, Eight Northern Pueblos Indian Arts & Crafts Show,
and Santa Fe Indian Market.
Emma's work has become very
collectible due to the high level of quality, and her work has
been published in Indian Market Magazine as well as "Southern
Pueblo Pottery: 2000 Artist Biographies" by Dr. Gregory
Schaaf.
