Grace Medicine
Flower & Camilio Tafoya
Santa Clara
Sacred Spirits
2 1/2"
H x 4 1/2" D
Grace Medicine Flower is the
sister of Joseph Lonewolf and the daughter of Camilio Tafoya.
She was born in 1938, and at an early age learned to make pottery.
With her brother Joseph, they pioneered the art of sgraffito
- carving and incising delicate designs into unfired pieces of
pottery.
Over the years, Grace and
Joseph elevated that tradition into perfection. Grace is able
to create perfectly constructed and etched miniatures, as well
as larger decorated and polished vessels.
Grace has truly mastered the
techniques of sgraffito carving and taken it to a new level.
She has a delicate touch and achieves a delicate balance.
Grace has been greatly honored
throughout her career for her innovative work. She has been visited
by Jackie Kennedy-Onasis, invited to the White House and ahs
pieces in collections and museums around the world.
In the 1970’s, , Grace
and here brother Joseph were both honored by the stare of New
Mexico with the production of a medal in honor of their contribution
to Santa Clara pottery. In addition to these honors, Grace has
won major awards at Gallup Ceremonials and other major events.
Camilio "Sunflower"
Tafoya (1902-1995) was a son of noted potter Sara Fina Tafoya
and Geronimo Tafoya. He was a brother of Margaret Tafoya and
Christina Naranjo. Two of his children, Grace Medicine Flower
and Joseph Lonewolf became renowned potters each working with
wonderful scraffito Native designs.
Camilio was married to Agapita
Tafoya and made carved pottery in the 1950's and 60's, he worked
with both Grace and Joseph on many of his works. In the 1970's
he began to create miniatures pottery first in collaboration
with Grace and then later on his own.
His pottery combined stories
of the pueblo along with creative and antidotal Pueblo life images
and animals scenes. His pottery can be found in many collections
and is displayed at multiple museums worldwide.
