Jemez Pueblo
Marcella Yepa, member of the Sun Clan, is a full blooded Native American
Indian. She was born into the Jemez Pueblo in 1964.
Marcella began working with clay at the age of 19. She was inspired
to learn the art of working with clay from her aunt, Alvina Yepa. Alvina
shared with Marcella all the fundamentals of hand coiling traditional
pottery.
She also taught her which hills provided the best clay to work with
and special techniques to construct her art. The lucrative aspect also
inspired Marcella to become an artisan. However, establishing her own
unique style of art gave her a feeling of self worth.
Marcella specializes in hand coiled contemporary swirl and melon styled
pottery.
She gathers her clay and other natural pigments within the Jemez Pueblo.
She soaks the clay, grinds it to a powder form, cleans the clay, hand
mixes, hand coils, shapes, carves the pottery, polishes her pottery
with a stone, and fires her pottery outdoors with cedar chips. She hand
coils many shapes and sizes of pottery like wedding vases, ollas, and
traditional shapes.
She signs her pottery as: M. Yepa, Jemez, or Marcella Yepa, Jemez.
She is related to the following artists: Emma Yepa (cousin), and Lawrence
Yepa.
Awards:
-None to date
Publications:
-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies
-1996 Edition of New Mexico Magazine