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 art and writes books. Barbara has even traveled to other countries as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. State Department. She is a fifth-generation Navajo weaver, meaning her family has been weaving for many generations. She shows her beautiful textiles in art exhibits and shares Navajo culture around the world.
Contents
About Barbara Ornelas
Barbara Ornelas belongs to the Tabaaha clan (Edgewater) and was born for the To-heedliinii clan (Two Water Flows Together). She grew up in New Mexico, near a place called Two Grey Hills Trading Post. Later, she moved to Arizona. Barbara learned to weave from her mother, grandmothers, and older sister. This means she is a fifth-generation Navajo weaver, carrying on a long family tradition.
How Barbara Creates Art
Barbara weaves amazing tapestries using wool from sheep. These sheep are raised by Navajo families in the local area. Her textiles are known for having a very high number of weft threads. This makes her weaving very detailed and strong. Some of her pieces have between 102 and 140 wefts per inch!
Where Her Art Has Been Shown
Barbara's beautiful artwork has been displayed in many famous museums. These include the Heard Museum, the Arizona State Museum, and the Denver Art Museum. Her work has also been shown at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of the American Indian and the British Museum of Mankind in London.
A Film About Her Family's Weaving
Barbara's daughter, Sierra Teller Ornelas, made a documentary film called A Loom with a View: Modern Navajo Weavers. The Arizona State Museum asked her to create this film. It shows the weaving traditions of her family, including Barbara, her son Michael Teller Ornelas, and Sierra's great-aunt Margaret Yazzie.
Awards and Recognition
Barbara Ornelas has won several important awards for her weaving.
- The Conrad House Award from the Heard Museum Guild Fair and Market.
- Best of Show (twice!) at the famous Santa Fe Indian Market.
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 and traditions 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-written books with her sister, Lynda Teller Pete. These books share their knowledge about Navajo weaving:
- Spider Woman's Children: Navajo Weavers Today (2018) Thrums Books ISBN: 978-0-99905-175-7
- How To Weave a Navajo Rug and Other Lessons from Spider Woman (2020), Thrums Books ISBN: 978-1-73442-170-5
Her Family's Weaving Legacy
Barbara's adult children, Sierra Teller Ornelas and Michael Teller Ornelas, are also weavers. They are the sixth generation of Navajo weavers in their family, continuing this important tradition.
See also
- Craft in America
- Daisy Taugelchee
