Event Details

Join us at Coronado Historic Site for our monthly artist demonstration with Hopi pottery artist Valerie Namoki who will be showing how she creates her Hopi Polychrome pottery figurines and ornaments. Valerie is a gifted Hopi-Tewa artist who is becoming well known for her sculpted pottery figures. She learned the art of making pottery from her grandmother, Carol Namoki. She was also inspired by her father Virgil, a Hopi wood doll carver, who taught her the art of carving. She blends the two mediums to create her own beautiful pottery figurines. Valerie collects all her materials from local areas on the Hopi Reservation. Her process includes harvesting the raw material such as clays and hematite stones for paint and other natural pigments. She begins by grinding the clay into a powder on a mano and metate, she molds her pieces, paints them and fires them naturally outdoors. She still continues to carry on this tradition of making pottery today and her pieces are sought after by many galleries and collectors.

Admission is free to NM residents, children 16 and younger, Tribal members, NM disabled veterans, NM foster families, and MNMF and FCJHS members. Admission for non-residents is $7 for adults.