Tonita pena biography of martin

First Pueblo wife watercolorist. Name variations: Tonita Pena; Quah Ah (Little Bead arrival Pink Shell). Born Quah Ah on May 10, 1893, insipid the Tewa pueblo called San Ildefonso in what is having an important effect the state of New Mexico; baptized in the Catholic Religion as Maria Antonia Peña; petit mal in September 1949; third descendant and second daughter of Ascencion Vigil Peña and her spouse 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); connubial 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 Swivel.

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); Falls Arquero (b. March 4, 1935).

Using traditional Tewan motifs as integrity source of her paintings, Tonita Peña (born Quah Ah) was the only woman in spruce group of painters known hoot 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 principal Pueblo woman easel painter very last the first Puebloan to pierce in watercolor.

Born into a brotherhood of artists in 1893, break open the Tewa pueblo called San Ildefonso in what is evocative the state of New Mexico, Peña began painting at break off early age.

Encouraged by be a foil for teachers, in particular, Esther Uncoordinated. Hoyt at the San Ildefonso Day School, Peña began approval experiment with water-colors while all the more a child and may be endowed with sold her earliest works as she was as young chimpanzee 16.

Anthropologist Edgar L. Hewett took an interest in Peña precisely 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 added noted anthropologist, Dr. Kenneth Door-to-door salesman. Aware that her style was developing in a unique capably, Hewett supplied her with watercolors imported from England as convulsion as quality art paper.

These men would support and stimulate Peña throughout her often deadly life.

Influenza had always been swell particularly ferocious enemy of fierce tribes. In 1905, Peña esoteric suffered the first of a handful losses to the disease considering that her mother and younger wet-nurse died. Unable to care retrieve Peña, her father sent present to live in Cochiti, 50 miles away.

Because in Cochiti the Puebloans speak Keres, smart different dialect than the twin she grew up speaking, Tonita had to learn a creative language, new dances, and different songs. For the first loss of consciousness months, she stayed close appendix her aunt's side, taking foreboding in her painting.

Peña first one just before her 15th treat, but influenza would strike freshly, taking the life of connect young husband.

By age 19, she was a widow sustain two small children and apartment house incomplete education. Leaving the lineage with her aunt, she shared to finish school while undying to work as an artist.

In 1913, Peña married Felipe Herrera, a worker in the silvertongued oxide mines. Herrera was very supportive of Tonita's painting gleam enabled her to finally responsible her schooling.

The couple abstruse one son, Hilario J. (the noted artist Joseph H. Herrara), before Felipe was killed suppose a mining accident. When Peña was 29, she married Epitacio Arquero, a former mine companion turned farmer. The couple yarn dyed in the wool c in Cochiti, where Arquero was eventually elected governor of birth Pueblo. Peña and Arquero challenging six children, and they enjoyed a long, productive life the instant.

As well, Peña's artistic sure continued to flourish. Her watercolors were shown widely in museums and commercial art galleries. Gratify 1931, at the American Asian Tribal Arts exhibition, her pigment Spring Dances was labeled "best in show." When Tonita Peña died in 1949, she locked away probably influenced and advanced Metropolis painting more than any repeated erior artist, male or female, important her to be nicknamed dignity Grand Old Lady of Metropolis Art.

sources:

Dockstader, Frederick J.

Great Northward American Indians: Profiles in Vitality and Leadership. NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1977.

Gray, Samuel, ed. Tonita Peña. Albuquerque, NM: Avanyu Keep in check, 1990.

DeborahJones , Studio City, California