Dextra Quotskuyva
(Nampeyo)
Fineline Migration
2 1/2"
H x 3 1/2" D
Dextra, a great-granddaughter
of Nampeyo of Hano, is certainly one of the most influential
Hopi potters working today, having taught not only her daughter,
Hisi, but also Steve Lucas, Yvonne Lucas, Les Namingha and Loren
Ami. Each piece is an original and her work runs from contemporary
to traditional.
She rarely repeats a design.
She has studied all the known pieces by Nampeyo of Hano as well
as the old Sikyaki pots in museums and photographs, and has an
encyclopedic memory of the designs. She takes these traditional
designs and uses them in imaginative new ways, giving her pottery
a look all its own.
The red areas are polished,
while the black is painted with bee-weed. An earlier work, this
low shoulder jar is a classic example of the fine lines Dextra
became known for.
While not a large vessel,
it is a significant work and the design fits the shape beautifully.
Dextra's work is definitely a must for any collection and this
jar is a beautiful example of why Dextra has had such an impact
on Hopi pottery.
Dextra has been the subject
of a recent exhibit at the Wheelwright Museum in Santa Fe, she
has had articles and books written about her that are too numerous
to mention.
