Rose Williams (c. 1915–2015) was a Navajo potter credited with renewing interest in the Navajo pottery tradition.[1][2][3]
Rose Williams | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1915 |
| Died | 2015 (aged 99–100) |
| Occupation | Navajo potter |
Career
editWilliams was a member of the most important family of Navajo potters, including her daughter Alice Cling and her aunt Grace Barlow.[4] Rose was trained by Barlow, and trained her daughter Cling, in turn; the three of them are credited with reviving the Navajo pottery tradition during the 20th century.[5] By tradition, Navajo pottery was used domestically or ceremonially and was characterized by a utilitarian aesthetic; the Williams family helped define the aesthetic of contemporary Navajo pottery, enabling its inclusion in the growing market for Native American crafts.[6]
Williams learned the craft of pottery as an adult. She began selling pottery after her husband died when she was 40 years old.[7]
Personal life
editWilliams had 12 children, four girls and eight boys, although two children are deceased. Rose was said to be an amazing person with so much character and courage. She was said to have always lit up others' days with her smile and silly jokes.[7] She spoke Navajo almost exclusively.[8]
Further reading
edit- Kirwin, Liza; Rosenak, Chuck; Rosenak, Jan (10 December 1998). "Oral history interview with Chuck and Jan Rosenak, 1998 December 10" (Audio oral history). Archives of American Art.
References
edit- ^ Booker, Margaret Moore (2011). "Cling, Alice". In Marter, Joan M. (ed.). The Grove Encyclopedia of American Art. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-199-73926-4. OCLC 701369915.
- ^ "Rose Williams (1915-2015)". Adobe Gallery, Santa Fe.
- ^ Reno, Dawn E. (1995). Contemporary Native American Artists: Pottery, Textiles, Painting, Sculpture, Fine Baskets and Other Authentic Indian Arts and Crafts : Over 1000 Artists Blazing New Trails in the Creative Arts. Brooklyn, NY: Alliance Publishers. ISBN 978-0-964-15096-6. OCLC 231711348.
- ^ (Firm), Southwest Art (1997). Leading the West : one hundred contemporary painters and sculptors. Northland Pub. ISBN 9780873586009. OCLC 883425856.
- ^ Congdon, Kristin G.; Hallmark, Kara Kelley, eds. (2012). "Alice Williams Cling". American Folk Art: A Regional Reference. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. pp. 487–488. ISBN 978-0-313-34936-2. OCLC 721891434.
- ^ a b "Making Navajo pottery a way of life for Rose Williams". Live Auctioneers. The Associated Press. 13 July 2009.
- ^ Tutin, Dave (5 September 2009). "Meeting a very special lady: Navajo potter Rose Williams". Words are only words but we turn them into gifts... then we seem confused as their meaning slowly shifts.
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