Komalestewa, Alton & Jeannie Shupla – Carved Bowl with Cloud and Lightning Designs (1980s)

Alton Komalestewa learned to make pottery from his mother-in-law Helen Shupla.  When he first began he made pieces with his wife, Jeannie Shupla. Most of these pieces were carved in style.  This bowl was made by Jeannie and carved by Alton.  The design is a cloud, lightning, and rain pattern.  It is deeply carved and complicated in style, using the negative space to accentuate the imagery.  Jeannie passed away in 1989 and they only worked together for a few years. The bowl is signed “Alton Komalestewa and Jeannie Shupla”.   It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

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Komalestewa, Alton (b.1959)

[caption id="attachment_55950" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Alton Komalestewa (Hopi-Tewa), Melon Jar[/caption] Alton Komalestewa is a great grandson of Nampeyo of Hano through her son William Komalestewa (1893-1922). Alton learned to make pottery from Santa Clara potter Helen Shupla. She taught him how to make her classic style of melon bowls with the undulating ribs.

Shupla, Jeannie (d.1989)

[caption id="attachment_58745" align="aligncenter" width="920"] Jeannie Shupla, Black Melon Jar[/caption] Jeannie Shupla was a daughter of noted potter Helen Shupla. She was married to Alton Komalestewa and they worked on pottery together in the 1980's but made very few pots together.  She passed away in 1989.