Barbara Teller Ornelas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barbara Teller Ornelas
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| Born | November 26, 1954 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Arizona State University |
| Occupation | Textile artist |
| Children | Sierra Teller Ornelas, Michael Teller Ornelas |
| Parent(s) | Sam Teller and Ruth Teller |
Barbara Teller Ornelas was born on November 26, 1954. She is a talented American weaver and a member of the Navajo Nation. She also teaches others about this special art and writes books. Barbara has traveled to other countries as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. State Department. She is a fifth-generation Navajo weaver. This means her family has been weaving for many generations. She shows her beautiful textiles and shares Navajo culture both in the United States and around the world.
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About Barbara's Life
Barbara Ornelas belongs to the Tabaaha clan, which means "Edgewater." She was born for the To-heedliinii clan, meaning "Two Water Flows Together." These are important family groups in Navajo culture. She grew up near the Two Grey Hills Trading Post in New Mexico. Later, she moved to Arizona. Barbara learned to weave from her mother, grandmothers, and older sister. This makes her a fifth-generation Navajo weaver, carrying on a long family tradition.
How Barbara Weaves
Barbara creates beautiful tapestries using sheep wool. This wool comes from local sheep raised by Navajo families. She weaves textiles with a very high number of threads woven together. These are called "weft-counts." Some of her pieces have 102 to 140 wefts, making them very detailed and strong.
Where Her Art Is Shown
Barbara's amazing artwork has been displayed in many famous museums. These include the Heard Museum and the Arizona State Museum. Her work has also been seen at the Denver Art Museum and the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of the American Indian. Even the British Museum of Mankind in London has shown her textiles.
A Family Documentary
Barbara's daughter, Sierra Teller Ornelas, made a documentary film. The Arizona State Museum asked her to create it. The film is called A Loom with a View: Modern Navajo Weavers. It explores the weaving traditions of her family. This includes Barbara herself, her son Michael Teller Ornelas, and Sierra's great aunt Margaret Yazzie.
Awards and Honors
Barbara Ornelas has received several important awards for her weaving.
- The Conrad House Award at the Heard Museum Guild Fair and Market.
- She won "Best of Show" two times at the Santa Fe Indian Market. This is a very big honor for Native American artists.
Traveling as a Cultural Ambassador
Barbara has traveled a lot as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. State Department. This means she helps share American culture with people in other countries. She has been part of cultural programs in places like Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Peru.
Books She Has Written
Barbara has co-authored books with her sister, Lynda Teller Pete.
- Spider Woman's Children: Navajo Weavers Today (published in 2018).
- How To Weave a Navajo Rug and Other Lessons from Spider Woman (published in 2020).
Her Family's Weaving Legacy
Barbara's adult children, Sierra Teller Ornelas and Michael Teller Ornelas, are also weavers. They are sixth-generation Navajo weavers. This shows how important weaving is to their family's history and culture.
See also
- Craft in America
- Daisy Taugelchee
