Nora Naranjo Morse facts for kids

Nora Naranjo Morse is a talented Native American artist and poet. She was born in 1953 and is a member of the Santa Clara Pueblo tribe. This tribe is part of the Tewa people. Nora Naranjo Morse lives in Española, New Mexico, which is north of Santa Fe.

Her amazing artwork is displayed in many museums. You can find her pieces at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona. Her art is also at the Minneapolis Institute of Art in Minnesota. The National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC, also has her work. In 2005, her sculpture Always Becoming won a big outdoor art competition there. In 2014, she received a special award from the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation. She also created public art for a project called 5x5.

Early Life and Education

Nora Naranjo Morse was born in 1953. Her family lived in Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico. Her mother, Rose Naranjo, was also a potter. Nora has two sisters and a younger brother. Her sister Tessie Naranjo is an expert on Tewa culture. Her other sister, Dolly Naranjo-Neikrug, is a potter and embroiderer. Her brother, Michael Naranjo, is a sculptor.

Nora finished high school in Taos, New Mexico, in 1971. She earned a bachelor's degree from Santa Fe College in 1980. Later, in 2007, she received an honorary doctorate from Skidmore College. Her daughter, Eliza Naranjo Morse, also studied art at Skidmore College.

Her Artistic Work

Nora Naranjo Morse first started sculpting with clay. She was inspired by the old traditions of making Pueblo Clowns. She created her own character named "Pearlene." Nora wrote stories about Pearlene in her poetry book, "Mud Women."

In her later art, Nora Naranjo Morse often talked about stereotypes of Native Americans. She also explored important questions within her own community. Some of her well-known art installations include Sugared Up: A Waffle Garden (1999). Another is A Pueblo Woman's Clothesline (1995).

Where Her Art Is Kept

Nora Naranjo Morse's large earthwork project, Numbe Wahgeh, is part of the city of Albuquerque's art collection. Her artwork, Our Homes, Ourselves, is displayed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Other pieces by Nora Naranjo Morse are in the Albuquerque Museum. You can also see her work at the Heard Museum. The National Museum of the American Indian of the Smithsonian Institution also has her art.

A Special Quote

"There is no word for art in the Tewa language ... There is though the concept for an artful life, filled with inspiration and fueled by labor and thoughtful approach."

Art Shows and Exhibits

Nora Naranjo Morse's art was shown in a special exhibit called Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists in 2019. This show was at the Minneapolis Institute of Art in Minnesota. She has also had her work displayed at the Heard Museum. Other places include the Wheelwright Museum and the White House. Her art has even been shown at the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

Awards and Recognitions

Nora Naranjo Morse has received several awards for her art. In 2003, she won a Contemporary Art Fellowship. This was for her project called Path Breakers from the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art. In 1993, she received a Dubin Fellowship from the School of American Research. She was also given a fellowship from the Southwestern Association on Indian Affairs in 1982.

See also

In Spanish: Nora Naranjo Morse para niños