Joyce Begay-Foss facts for kids

Joyce Begay-Foss is an amazing Diné (Navajo) artist. She is famous for her beautiful weavings. Joyce is also an educator, which means she teaches people, and a curator, who helps organize museum exhibits. She works as the director of education at the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture. Joyce has won over 20 awards for her weaving at big events like the Santa Fe Indian Market and the Eight Northern Pueblos arts and crafts show.

Joyce Begay-Foss: Her Life and Work

Joyce Begay-Foss was born in Shiprock, New Mexico. Her mother is Helen Smith, and her father was Fred Begay. Fred Begay was a special person because he was both a scientist (a physicist) and a traditional healer for his community.

Joyce grew up in two places: Northern New Mexico and a Navajo reservation in Arizona. When she was younger, her family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Starting Her Artistic Journey

Joyce started weaving when she was in her 20s. Weaving is a traditional art form where threads are interlaced to create fabric or designs. Later, in her 30s, she started her own company called Walk In Beauty Fiber Arts. This company helped share her beautiful fiber art with more people.

Working in Museums

Joyce has worked in museums for many years. She was a curator at the Poeh Museum before the 1990s. A curator is like a detective and storyteller for museums. They research, collect, and display important objects.

In 1998, Joyce became the curator of education at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture (MIAC). This means she helped create educational programs for visitors. In 2000, she became the director of education for a new part of the museum called the Living Traditions Center. She helps people learn about Native American cultures and traditions.

Fighting for Native American Art

In 2008, Joyce was chosen to lead the Indian Arts and Crafts Board. This important group works to stop fake Native American art from being sold. They also help Native American artists grow their businesses and share their amazing work.

Sharing Stories Through Exhibitions and Books

Joyce is also a writer and an exhibition creator. In 2011, the MIAC had a special exhibit called "Spider Woman’s (Na ashje’ii ‘Asdzáá) Gift: Navajo Weaving Traditions." After the exhibit, Joyce helped write a book with the same name. The book teaches about Diné basket and textile weavings from the 1850s to the 1890s. It shares the history and meaning behind these beautiful creations.

In 2019, Joyce created another important exhibit at the MIAC. It was called Lifeways of the Southern Athabaskans. This exhibit showed how Southern Athabaskan people live and their traditions. It even won a special Award of Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History!

Teaching the Art of Weaving

Joyce Begay-Foss loves to share her knowledge. She teaches weaving to both children and adults. She helps new generations learn this important art form. Her own weavings have won many awards at big art shows like the Santa Fe Indian Market and the Eight Northern Pueblos arts and crafts show.