Clara Nezbah Sherman (February 18, 1914 – July 31, 2010)
was a
Navajo artist particularly known for her
Navajo rug
Navajo rugs and blankets ( nv, ) are textiles produced by Navajo people of the Four Corners area of the United States. Navajo textiles are highly regarded and have been sought after as trade items for over 150 years. Commercial production of han ...
s. Born Nezbah Gould, her mother was of the clan, and her father was of the . She was the last surviving member of ten siblings including an adopted sister. Sherman and her siblings learned to
weave as children from her family, who specialized in the craft. Clara had several children with her husband, John Sherman. Her daughters and granddaughters also learned to weave.
She played the
harmonica, and could "keep a melody and bass line going at the same time."
In 2006, she was awarded the Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts by the governor of
New Mexico
)
, population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano)
, seat = Santa Fe
, LargestCity = Albuquerque
, LargestMetro = Tiguex
, OfficialLang = None
, Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ke ...
in association with the
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal ...
. She is one of the artists whose work is available at the historic
Toadlena Trading Post on New Mexico Arts'
Fiber Arts Trail.
References
External links
Video of Clara Sherman carding and spinning wool YouTube
Woven rug portrait of Clara playing her harmonica
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sherman, Clara
Native American textile artists
Navajo artists
American weavers
American harmonica players
1914 births
2010 deaths
People from San Juan County, New Mexico
20th-century American women artists
Native American women artists
Women textile artists
20th-century Native Americans
21st-century Native Americans
20th-century Native American women
21st-century Native American women