Artist Bio:
Gwen Tafoya was born in 1965
into the Santa Clara Pueblo. She began experimenting with pottery
making at the age of 6. She started out hand coiling small bowls
and pots, using traditional methods.
Gwen began making larger pieces
of pottery by the time she reached the age of 16, and eventually
would etch on the pottery steadily. She was inspired to make
pottery by her mother, Mary Agnes Tafoya.
She taught Gwen all the fundamentals
of hand coiling traditional Santa Clara Pottery. Gwen specializes
in hand coiling the traditional Santa Clara pottery, carved and
etched by her. She gathers her natural pigments from within the
hills of the Santa Clara Pueblo. Gwen cleans, mixes, hand coils,
shapes, polishes, and fires her pottery, outdoors with horse
manure.
She especially likes to make
seed pots because she has more room to etch her favorite designs
of hummingbirds or flowers on the top of the pottery. Gwen also
has a special part in her heart for the wedding vase because
of its meaning. Gwen signs her pottery as “Gwen Tafoya”.
Gwen is related to the following
artists: Angela Baca (aunt), Madeline Naranjo (aunt), Belen Tapia
(aunt),Tina Garcia, Greg Garcia, Virgie Garcia, and Paul Speckled
Rock (cousins).