Grace Chapella facts for kids

Grace Chapella (born in 1874, passed away in 1980) was a very famous Hopi-Tewa potter. She came from a Tewa village and belonged to the Bear Clan. Grace was known for her beautiful pottery, which is a big part of Native American art.

Learning to Create Pottery

Grace Chapella started learning how to make pottery when she was a small child. Her mother, TaTung Pawbe, taught her many important techniques. A famous neighbor named Nampeyo also shared her knowledge with young Grace. Grace's father, Toby Wehe, was a traditional farmer. This early learning helped Grace become a master potter.

Sharing Her Amazing Art

In the early 1900s, Grace Chapella began selling her pottery. She sold her pieces at a special store called a trading post. This trading post was set up by Tom Polacca, who was also Tewa. Tom Polacca was the first person to encourage Grace to sign her artwork. This made her work even more special.

Grace's art became so important that an expert named Gene Weltfish studied it. Her pottery is now kept in the permanent collection of the Brooklyn Museum. This means her art is displayed there all the time for people to see.

A Life of Firsts and Family

Grace Chapella had a very interesting life. In 1927, she became the first Hopi person to ever travel by airplane! She flew to a different place to show how she made her pottery. This was a big deal at the time.

For many years, from 1917 to 1955, Grace worked as a cook. She cooked for the Polacca Day School. When she retired in 1955, the school staff gave her a special gift. They gave her a water spigot for her yard. At that time, most homes in Polacca did not have running water. Grace was the first person in a private home to have running water!

Many of Grace Chapella's children and grandchildren also became potters. They continued her amazing artistic tradition.