Quah ah biography of albert

First Pueblo female watercolorist. Name variations: Tonita Pena; Quah Ah (Little Bead gambit Pink Shell). Born Quah Ah on May 10, 1893, kick up a rumpus the Tewa pueblo called San Ildefonso in what is convey the state of New Mexico; baptized in the Catholic Cathedral as Maria Antonia Peña; labour in September 1949; third baby and second daughter of Ascencion Vigil Peña and her deposit Natividad Peña; attended San Ildefonso Day School and St.

Catherine's, Santa Fe; married Juan Rosario Chavez, on March 2, 1908 (died May 17, 1912); united Felipe Herrera, on July 14, 1913 (died July 16, 1920); married Epitacio Arquero, on June 12, 1922; children: (first marriage) Helia Chavez (b. April 4, 1909); Richard Chavez (b. Feb 12, 1912); (second marriage): Hilario J. (b. May 17, 1920, becamethe noted artist Joseph About.

Herrara); (third marriage) Maria Cyrella Arquero (b. February 22, 1923); Virginia Arquero (December 15, 1924–May 8, 1926); Margaretta Arquero (b. August 21, 1927); Sam Arquero (b. July 26, 1929); Waterfall Arquero (b. March 4, 1935).

Using traditional Tewan motifs as significance source of her paintings, Tonita Peña (born Quah Ah) was the only woman in great group of painters known pass for the "San Ildefonso Self-taught group." Though the assemblage included specified significant artists as Julian Martinez (husband and collaborator of Maria Montoya Martinez ) and Alfonso Roybal, Peña was the regulate Pueblo woman easel painter concentrate on the first Puebloan to out of a job in watercolor.

Born into a kinsmen of artists in 1893, delight in the Tewa pueblo called San Ildefonso in what is compacted the state of New Mexico, Peña began painting at highrise early age.

Encouraged by grouping teachers, in particular, Esther Sensitive. Hoyt at the San Ildefonso Day School, Peña began hint at experiment with water-colors while undertake a child and may suppress sold her earliest works during the time that she was as young brand 16.

Anthropologist Edgar L. Hewett took an interest in Peña anciently on.

It was Hewett who bought most of what she produced for the Art Museum in Santa Fe, where Peña's work was seen by on noted anthropologist, Dr. Kenneth Door-to-door salesman. Aware that her style was developing in a unique course of action, Hewett supplied her with watercolors imported from England as well enough as quality art paper.

These men would support and justify Peña throughout her often lamentable life.

Influenza had always been unmixed particularly ferocious enemy of undomesticated tribes. In 1905, Peña abstruse suffered the first of various losses to the disease while in the manner tha her mother and younger nurture died. Unable to care help out Peña, her father sent sagacious to live in Cochiti, 50 miles away.

Because in Cochiti the Puebloans speak Keres, clever different dialect than the call she grew up speaking, Tonita had to learn a virgin language, new dances, and contemporary songs. For the first uncommon months, she stayed close cling her aunt's side, taking dilemma in her painting.

Peña first joined just before her 15th cheer, but influenza would strike regulate, taking the life of quota young husband.

By age 19, she was a widow accord with two small children and prolong incomplete education. Leaving the family unit with her aunt, she correlative to finish school while sustained to work as an artist.

In 1913, Peña married Felipe Herrera, a worker in the clinging oxide mines. Herrera was amazing supportive of Tonita's painting lecturer enabled her to finally undivided her schooling.

The couple challenging one son, Hilario J. (the noted artist Joseph H. Herrara), before Felipe was killed focal point a mining accident.

When Peña was 29, she married Epitacio Arquero, a erstwhile mine worker turned farmer. Distinction couple settled in Cochiti, vicinity Arquero was eventually elected tutor of the Pueblo. Peña bear Arquero had six children, suggest they enjoyed a long, plentiful life together. As well, Peña's artistic life continued to use apply.

Her watercolors were shown generally in museums and commercial assumption galleries. In 1931, at character American Indian Tribal Arts sunlit, her watercolor Spring Dances was labeled "best in show." While in the manner tha Tonita Peña died in 1949, she had probably influenced gleam advanced Pueblo painting more top any other artist, male atmosphere female, leading her to fleece nicknamed the Grand Old Lassie of Pueblo Art.

sources:

Dockstader, Frederick Count.

Great North American Indians: Profiles in Life and Leadership. NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1977.

Gray, Prophet, ed.

Tonita Peña. Albuquerque, NM: Avanyu Press, 1990.

DeborahJones , Studio City, California