Belen Tapia
Santa ClaraBelen Tapia lived from 1914 to 1999. She was the daughter of Thomas Tafoya and Maria Atencio but is better known as a niece of Sarafina Tafoya and cousin of Margaret Tafoya and Christina Naranjo.
Belen was one of the innovators of polychrome redware. Her second husband, Ernest Tapia, traveled to hidden corners of the Pajarito Plateau and gathered the blue-grey, umber tan, salmon orange and white clays that he ground very fine to make the paints they both used to decorate her pots. She made mostly bowls, jars, wedding vases, plates and engagement baskets. Her favorite designs were kiva steps, feathers, avanyus and terraced clouds.
Belen participated in the Santa Fe Indian Market from 1979 to 1995, earning a number of ribbons including a Best of Division and a First Place in 1980.
Some Exhibits which Featured Belen's Work
- Breaking the Surface: Carved Pottery Techniques and Designs. Heard Museum. 2004
- Recent Acquisitions from the Herman and Claire Bloom Collection. Heard Museum, 1997
Some Awards Earned by Belen
- 1987 Gallup InterTribal Ceremonial. Class V - Pottery, Wedding Vase, First Place
- 1986 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II - Pottery, Div. E - Traditional pottery, painted designs on burnished black or red surface, Cat. 1104 - Wedding vases, Third Place
- 1984 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II - Pottery, Div. C - Traditional pottery, incised, Cat. 1007 - Plates, Third Place
- 1980 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II - Pottery, Div. E - Traditional pottery, painted designs on burnished black or red surface, Best of Division, First Place
- 1979 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II - Pottery, Div. C - Black carved plate, Second Place
- Polychrome plate, Second Place
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