Otis Polelonema | |
---|---|
Born | Hopi Reservation,
Shongopovi, Navajo County, Arizona, U.S. | February 21, 1902
Died | December 27, 1981 | (aged 79)
Nationality | Hopi Tribe |
Other names | Lomadamocvia, Lomada-moc-via, Springtime |
Occupation(s) | Artist, musician |
Known for | Painting, weaver, song composer |
Spouse | Jessie Salaftoche |
Children | 6 |
Otis Polelonema (1902–1981), was a Hopi painter, illustrator, weaver, song composer, and educator. [1] [2] He lived in Shongopovi most of his life. [3] He also worked as a WPA artist in the mural division. [4] [5] His native name in the Hopi language is Lomadamocvia which translates to "springtime". [6]
Otis Polelonema was born on February 21, 1902, the Hopi Reservation in Shongopovi ( Hopi: Songòopavi), Arizona. [7] [3] He learned to weave from his father and uncles, as it is tradition in Hopi culture for the men to be weavers. [3] Polelonema worked as a sheep farmer in his early life and again in later life. [6]
In 1914, he attended the Santa Fe Indian School, under the supervision of John DeHuff. [6] Polelonema took after-school art instruction classes at Elizabeth Willis DeHuff's house, studying alongside Fred Kabotie, Velino Shije Herrera, Awa Tsireh, and others. [6] [8] He remained in Santa Fe until 1920, then returned to his hometown. [4] [6]
In 1925, Polelonema married Jessie Salaftoche, and together they had 6 children. [6] His son Tyler Polelonema is a noted artist. [6]
Polelonema stopped painting in the 1970s, and started to focus on Hopi traditions and Hopi cultural arts. [6] In late life, he worked as a song composer of Hopi ceremonial dances, including songs of the Gray Flute society. [6] He taught Hopi weaving in 1971 at Mary Pendleton's Pendleton Fabric Craft School in Sedona, Arizona. [3]
Otis died on December 27, 1981, at Shungopovi, during the Solstice Ceremony. [6] [9] However, sometimes 1972 is attributed as his year of death. [10]
Polelonema's artwork can be found in museum collections, including at the Heard Museum, [11] Gilcrease Museum, [12] McNay Art Museum, [13] New Mexico Museum of Art (formerly Museum of New Mexico Art Gallery), [14] National Museum of the American Indian, [15] and the Detroit Institute of Arts museum. [16] His work is also part of the Elizabeth Willis DeHuff Collection of American Indian Art at Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. [17] [18]
Otis Polelonema | |
---|---|
Born | Hopi Reservation,
Shongopovi, Navajo County, Arizona, U.S. | February 21, 1902
Died | December 27, 1981 | (aged 79)
Nationality | Hopi Tribe |
Other names | Lomadamocvia, Lomada-moc-via, Springtime |
Occupation(s) | Artist, musician |
Known for | Painting, weaver, song composer |
Spouse | Jessie Salaftoche |
Children | 6 |
Otis Polelonema (1902–1981), was a Hopi painter, illustrator, weaver, song composer, and educator. [1] [2] He lived in Shongopovi most of his life. [3] He also worked as a WPA artist in the mural division. [4] [5] His native name in the Hopi language is Lomadamocvia which translates to "springtime". [6]
Otis Polelonema was born on February 21, 1902, the Hopi Reservation in Shongopovi ( Hopi: Songòopavi), Arizona. [7] [3] He learned to weave from his father and uncles, as it is tradition in Hopi culture for the men to be weavers. [3] Polelonema worked as a sheep farmer in his early life and again in later life. [6]
In 1914, he attended the Santa Fe Indian School, under the supervision of John DeHuff. [6] Polelonema took after-school art instruction classes at Elizabeth Willis DeHuff's house, studying alongside Fred Kabotie, Velino Shije Herrera, Awa Tsireh, and others. [6] [8] He remained in Santa Fe until 1920, then returned to his hometown. [4] [6]
In 1925, Polelonema married Jessie Salaftoche, and together they had 6 children. [6] His son Tyler Polelonema is a noted artist. [6]
Polelonema stopped painting in the 1970s, and started to focus on Hopi traditions and Hopi cultural arts. [6] In late life, he worked as a song composer of Hopi ceremonial dances, including songs of the Gray Flute society. [6] He taught Hopi weaving in 1971 at Mary Pendleton's Pendleton Fabric Craft School in Sedona, Arizona. [3]
Otis died on December 27, 1981, at Shungopovi, during the Solstice Ceremony. [6] [9] However, sometimes 1972 is attributed as his year of death. [10]
Polelonema's artwork can be found in museum collections, including at the Heard Museum, [11] Gilcrease Museum, [12] McNay Art Museum, [13] New Mexico Museum of Art (formerly Museum of New Mexico Art Gallery), [14] National Museum of the American Indian, [15] and the Detroit Institute of Arts museum. [16] His work is also part of the Elizabeth Willis DeHuff Collection of American Indian Art at Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. [17] [18]