Artist Bio:
Alvina Yepa was born into
the Sun Clan at Jemez Pueblo on August 4, 1954, to Nick and Felipita
Yepa.
Alvina has been a recognized
Jemez potter for more than 20 years. She does both melon jars
and sgraffito carved jars, and often a combination of these two
styles. Sgraffito is a technique of carving designs in a fired
pottery piece, using sharp tools such as dental picks. This technique
is particularly painstaking, since one slip and the pottery's
design is ruined.
She learned pottery from her
mother, Filipita Yepa. She has won major awards at all of the
larger Indian crafts shows, including Santa Fe Indian Market,
Eight Northern Pueblos Show, Heard Museum Show, and the Inter-tribal
Indian Ceremonial in Gallup. Marcella Yepa is her niece and protege.
Both are members of the Jemez Sun Clan.
