Po'pay (Fragua) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Po'pay |
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The sculpture in the National Statuary Hall Collection
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| Artist | Cliff Fragua |
| Year | 2005 |
| Medium | Marble sculpture |
| Location | Washington, D.C., United States |
Po'pay is an important statue that honors Po’pay, a brave leader from the Tewa people. He was one of the Pueblo leaders who led a big uprising called the Pueblo Revolt in 1680 against the Spanish.
The statue was carved by Cliff Fragua, a talented artist from Jemez Pueblo. He used a huge block of Tennessee marble to create it. This statue is special because it was the 100th statue placed in the National Statuary Hall Collection in Washington, D.C. Each state gets to choose two important people to represent them there. Po'pay was also one of several Native American leaders honored in this collection.
The Story Behind the Statue
The idea to honor Po'pay with a statue started in 1997. Two representatives from New Mexico, Manny Aragon and Nick Salazar, suggested it. They introduced a bill, which is a proposed law, in the New Mexico Senate. This bill asked for Po'pay to be the second person to represent New Mexico in the National Statuary Hall.
Making the Statue a Reality
The bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Gary E. Johnson. After that, a special group called the Statuary Hall Commission was formed. Their job was to pick an artist to create the statue and to raise money for the project. They chose Cliff Fragua, who was the perfect artist for the job.
From Pueblo to Capitol
Cliff Fragua worked on the statue for three years in his studio at Jemez Pueblo. When it was finished, the statue was first shown to the public in Ohkay Owingeh pueblo on May 21, 2005. This place was special because it was Po'pay's home. The statue received a blessing there before it traveled all the way to Washington, D.C. It was officially revealed in the Capitol rotunda on September 22, 2005, where it stands today.
