Paul Speckled Rock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Speckled Rock
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Red clay pot with incised turquoise turtle motif by Paul Speckled Rock
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| Born |
Paul Joseph Tafoya
February 6, 1952 |
| Died | 2017 |
| Nationality | American (Santa Clara Pueblo) |
| Known for | Painting, sculpture, pottery |
Paul Joseph "Speckled Rock" Tafoya (1952 – 2017) was a talented Native American artist. He was famous for his amazing paintings, cool bear fetishes (small carved figures), and bronze sculptures of dancers. He also made beautiful red and black pottery.
Paul was a member of the Tewa people and lived in the Santa Clara Pueblo in New Mexico. He owned a special art gallery called Merrock Galeria. This gallery showed off the incredible artwork of other artists from the Pueblo communities.
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Paul Speckled Rock's Early Life
Paul Joseph Speckled Rock Tafoya was born on February 6, 1952. His parents were Paul and Tonita Tafoya. His father, Paul Tafoya, Sr., was a welder. He also served as the leader (governor) of Santa Clara Pueblo for many years.
Paul Speckled Rock came from a family of artists. His brothers, Kenneth and Ray Tafoya, were artists too. His aunt, Angela Baca, and his grandmother, Severa Tafoya, were all well-known potters from Santa Clara Pueblo.
Paul finished high school in 1970. Around that time, he officially changed his last name from Tafoya to Speckled Rock. He also studied architectural engineering for a short time.
In 1972, Paul married Rosemary "Apple Blossom" Lonewolf. She was also a famous potter. Their son, Adam Speckled Rock, was born in November 1972. Adam also became a potter, just like his parents! After his son was born, Paul decided to focus fully on his art. To support his family, he also worked as a tribal policeman on weekends for a few years.
Paul Speckled Rock passed away in early 2017.
Paul Speckled Rock's Art Creations
Paul Speckled Rock started his art journey in 1973. He began by creating small paintings, often showing designs and scenes from Pueblo life. He usually used acrylic paint on boards.
In 1977, he started making bronze sculptures. Many of these sculptures showed Native American warriors dressed in their special ceremonial clothes. He also became known for his unique bear fetishes.
Paul began making pottery in 1983. He was inspired by his grandmother, Severa Tafoya, who was a master potter. A lot of his pottery was traditional redware. But he also made pottery with interesting, unusual shapes. He often decorated these pieces using a technique called sgraffito. This is where you scratch designs into the surface of the pottery.
Awards for His Art
Paul Speckled Rock won several awards for his amazing artwork:
| Year | Award |
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| 1984 | First, Second, and Third Place at the Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial |
| 1984 | First Place at the New Mexico State Fair |
| 1991 | Second Place for a jar at the Santa Fe Indian Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico |
| 1992 | Third Place for a bowl at the Indian Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico |
Art Shows and Exhibitions
Paul's art was shown in many places, allowing people to see his wonderful creations:
| Year | Venue |
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| 1972 | New Mexico State Fair, Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| 1972-1981 | American Indian Art Show, Denver, Colorado |
| 1972-1984 | Gallup Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial, Gallup, New Mexico |
| 1973 | Deer Dancer, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado |
| 1985 | Sid Deusch Gallery, New York, New York (a special show with Margaret Tafoya) |
| 1985-1998 | Indian Market, Santa Fe, New Mexico |
His art was also displayed at other important places. These included the Heritage Center Inc. Collection in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. It was also shown at the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market in Phoenix, Arizona. And at the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Paul Speckled Rock's Art Gallery
Paul Speckled Rock owned and ran an art gallery called the Merrock Galeria. It was located in the Santa Clara Pueblo. Paul and his wife Mercedes started the gallery in 1984.
The Merrock Galeria showed art from many different Pueblo artists. These artists came not only from Santa Clara Pueblo but also from other Pueblo communities in the American Southwest.
Paul really enjoyed owning the gallery. He once said, "I find selling other people's work rewarding. I get to learn more about who my customers are. No two people are alike, and all have different tastes." The Merrock Galeria was a popular stop for groups touring New Mexico. Paul loved talking to visitors about the artwork and how it was made.
