Garnet Pavatea facts for kids

Garnet Pavatea (born in 1915, died in 1981) was a talented Hopi-Tewa potter. She was also known by the name Flower Girl. She created beautiful pottery using traditional methods.

Her Early Life

Garnet Pavatea was born in a place called Hano. This village is close to First Mesa, Arizona. Her mother was from the Tewa people, and her father was from the Hopi people. Her father, Duwakaku, was a silversmith. He made beautiful things from silver.

Becoming a Potter

Garnet Pavatea started making pottery in the 1940s. She used red clay, which is a common material for pots. She also used special colored liquid clay called slip. She often used black and red slip to decorate her pieces.

Her bowls were unique. They often had small triangular shapes pressed into the edges. These indentations made her pottery special.

Sharing Her Art

Garnet Pavatea loved to share her skills. She often showed visitors how she made pottery. She did these demonstrations at the Museum of Northern Arizona. People could watch her create her art step by step.

Her amazing pottery is now in museums around the world. You can find her work at places like the National Museum of the American Indian. Other museums include the University of Michigan Museum of Art and the C.N. Gorman Museum. The Museum of the Red River also displays her art.

Her Family

Garnet Pavatea was married to Womak Pavatea. They had a daughter named Wilma Rose Pavatea. Wilma also learned to make pottery, following in her mother's footsteps.