Faye Tso (1933–2004) was a

Navajo The Navajo (; British English: Navaho; nv, Diné or ') are a Native American people of the Southwestern United States. With more than 399,494 enrolled tribal members , the Navajo Nation is the largest federally recognized tribe in the United ...

potter A potter is someone who makes pottery. Potter may also refer to: Places United States *Potter, originally a section on the Alaska Railroad, currently a neighborhood of Anchorage, Alaska, US * Potter, Arkansas *Potter, Nebraska * Potters, New Je ...

and herbal medicine healer. Her pieces are known for their nontraditional imagery of corn maidens, warriors, and dancers, whereas

pottery typically has little decoration. Born in Coal Mine Mesa,

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

, Tso was relocated with other Navajos to

Tuba City Tuba City ( nv, ) is an unincorporated town in Coconino County, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation, United States. It is the second-largest community in Coconino County. The population of the census-designated place (CDP) was 8,611 at the 2010 cen ...

in 1974 because of a

land dispute A territorial dispute or boundary dispute is a disagreement over the possession or control of land between two or more political entities. Context and definitions Territorial disputes are often related to the possession of natural resources su ...

between the Navajo and

Hopi The Hopi are a Native American ethnic group who primarily live on the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona, United States. As of the 2010 census, there are 19,338 Hopi in the country. The Hopi Tribe is a sovereign nation within the Unite ...

tribes. 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. In 1990, the Arizona Indian Living Treasures Association designated Tso as a living treasure. Her husband and son are

medicine men A medicine man is a traditional healer and spiritual leader among the indigenous people of the Americas. Medicine Man or The Medicine Man may also refer to: Films * ''The Medicine Man'' (1917 film), an American silent film directed by Clifford S ...

and use Tso's pots in their ceremonies.

Noted works

Tso's works have sold for over $1,000, and several of her pieces are held in the

Smithsonian American Art Museum The Smithsonian American Art Museum (commonly known as SAAM, and formerly the National Museum of American Art) is a museum in Washington, D.C., part of the Smithsonian Institution. Together with its branch museum, the Renwick Gallery, SAAM holds o ...

: * ''Head of Emmett'', c. 1985, fired clay with piñon pitch, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 1997.124.175 * ''Bean Pot with Incised Corn Maiden Figures'', 1987, fired clay with piñon pitch, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 1997.124.176 * ''Pot with Dancers with Headdresses and Rattles'', c. 1985, fired clay with piñon pitch, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 1997.124.177 * ''Pot with Figurative Decoration'', c. 1992, fired clay with piñon pitch, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 1997.124.178 Http- americanart

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tso, Faye 1933 births 2004 deaths Native American potters Artists from Arizona Native American women artists Navajo artists People from Coconino County, Arizona 20th-century ceramists 20th-century American women 20th-century American people 20th-century Native Americans 21st-century Native Americans 20th-century Native American women 21st-century Native American women