Faye Tso

Faye Tso
Faye Tso, c. 1990
Born1933
Coal Mine Mesa, Arizona
Died2004 (aged 70–71)
Tuba City, Navajo Nation, Arizona
NationalityNavajo
Known forCeramics, herbal medicine

Faye Tso (1933–2004) was a Navajo potter and herbal medicine healer.[1] Her pieces are known for their nontraditional imagery of corn maidens, warriors, and dancers, whereas Navajo pottery typically has little decoration.[2] Born in Coal Mine Mesa, Arizona, Tso was relocated with other Navajos to Tuba City, Arizona in 1974 because of a land dispute between the Navajo and Hopi tribes.[3] She returned to dig her clay at Coal Mine Mesa, where she also gathered pinon from which she extracted the pitch resin used to coat and seal her Dineh pottery.[1] In 1990, the Arizona Indian Living Treasures Association designated Tso as a living treasure.[4][5] Her husband and son are medicine men and use Tso's pots in their ceremonies.[2][6]

  1. ^ a b Halberstadt, Carol Snyder. "Faye Tso, Coal Mine Mesa Community (1934-2004)". Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Faye Tso". Smithsonian American Art Museum. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  3. ^ Pasztor, David (12 Aug 1992). "Frozen in time the 20-year war between Navajos and Hopis over homelands leaves them cold". Phoenix New Times. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  4. ^ "AILTA Living Treasures | Arizona Indian Living Treasures Awards". Arizona Indian Living Treasures Awards. 2018-09-03. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018.
  5. ^ Norrell, Brenda (11 October 2000). "Yavapai-Apache Nation honors Arizona Indian Living Treasures". Indian Country Today. pp. C1.
  6. ^ Rosenak, Chuck; Rosenak, Jan (1994). The people speak : Navajo folk art (1st ed.). Flagstaff, Ariz.: Northland Pub. ISBN 0873585658.