Faye Tso
Faye Tso, c. 1990
Born1933
Coal Mine Mesa, Arizona
Died2004 (aged 70–71)
Tuba City, Navajo Nation, Arizona
NationalityNavajo
Known forCeramics, herbal medicine

Faye Tso (1933–2004) was a Navajo potter and herbal medicine healer.[1] Her pieces are known for their nontraditional imagery of corn maidens, warriors, and dancers, whereas Navajo pottery typically has little decoration.[2] Born in Coal Mine Mesa, Arizona, Tso was relocated with other Navajos to Tuba City, Arizona in 1974 because of a land dispute between the Navajo and Hopi tribes.[3] She returned to dig her clay at Coal Mine Mesa, where she also gathered pinon from which she extracted the pitch resin used to coat and seal her Dineh pottery.[1] In 1990, the Arizona Indian Living Treasures Association designated Tso as a living treasure.[4][5] Her husband and son are medicine men and use Tso's pots in their ceremonies.[2][6]

Noted works

Head of Emmett, circa 1985, by Faye Tso, fired clay with piñon pitch, 10 3/8 x 7 1/4 in. (26.4 x 18.4 cm) diam.Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1997.124.175

Tso's works have sold for over $1,000,[7] and several of her pieces are held in the Smithsonian American Art Museum:

  • Head of Emmett, c. 1985, fired clay with piñon pitch, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 1997.124.175[8]
  • Bean Pot with Incised Corn Maiden Figures, 1987, fired clay with piñon pitch, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 1997.124.176[9]
  • Pot with Dancers with Headdresses and Rattles, c. 1985, fired clay with piñon pitch, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 1997.124.177[10]
  • Pot with Figurative Decoration, c. 1992, fired clay with piñon pitch, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 1997.124.178[11]
Pot with Dancers with Headdresses and Rattles, ca. 1985by Faye Tso, fired clay with piñon pitch, 22 x 18 7/8 x 18 1/2 in. (55.9 x 47.9 x 47.0 cm)Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson1997.124.177

References

  1. 1 2 Halberstadt, Carol Snyder. "Faye Tso, Coal Mine Mesa Community (1934-2004)". Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Faye Tso". Smithsonian American Art Museum. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  3. ↑ Pasztor, David (12 Aug 1992). "Frozen in time the 20-year war between Navajos and Hopis over homelands leaves them cold". Phoenix New Times. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  4. ↑ "AILTA Living Treasures | Arizona Indian Living Treasures Awards". Arizona Indian Living Treasures Awards. 2018-09-03. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018.
  5. ↑ Norrell, Brenda (11 October 2000). "Yavapai-Apache Nation honors Arizona Indian Living Treasures". Indian Country Today. pp. C1.
  6. ↑ Rosenak, Chuck; Rosenak, Jan (1994). The people speak : Navajo folk art (1st ed.). Flagstaff, Ariz.: Northland Pub. ISBN 0873585658.
  7. ↑ "Tso, Faye (1933-2004)". King Galleries. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  8. ↑ "Head of Emmett". Smithsonian American Art Museum Collections Search. Smithsonian American Art Museum. Retrieved 2013-03-29.
  9. ↑ "Bean Pot with Incised Corn Maiden Figures". Smithsonian American Art Museum Collections Search. Smithsonian American Art Museum. Retrieved 2013-03-29.
  10. ↑ "Pot with Dancers with Headdresses and Rattles". Smithsonian American Art Museum Collections Search. Smithsonian American Art Museum. Retrieved 2013-03-29.
  11. ↑ "Pot with Figurative Decoration". Smithsonian American Art Museum Collections Search. Smithsonian American Art Museum. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
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