Chino, Grace

One of the daughters of the famous Marie Z. Chino of Acoma Pueblo, Grace Theresa Chino was born in 1929 and passed on in 1994. While she learned the methods of the traditional art through watching and working with her mother early in life, Grace didn’t really start making pottery until she was in her early 20s.

Grace was highly respected for making large, well-formed and beautifully painted traditional Acoma pottery. She believed that each pot would tell her what design would be most appropriate for that pot and she’d go with that. Grace was not one for repeating trademark designs. Rather, she created many innovative compositions that were artistic and well-balanced. Many Acoma potters still say she was their favorite.

Grace was one of the potters featured in the 1974 “Seven Families in Pueblo Pottery” exhibition at the University of New Mexico’s Maxwell Museum. She was also a featured potter in the “One Space: Three Visions” exhibit at the Albuquerque Museum in 1979. Grace was a regular exhibitor at the Santa Fe Indian Market from 1980 through 1994, winning ribbons almost every year.

Grace made all kinds of shapes and forms, from miniatures to traditional seed pots, wedding vases, bowls and jars. She worked in both polychrome and black-on-white. Among her favorite designs were clouds, rain, parrots and the four-petal “pumpkin seed snowflake” pattern.

Some Awards that Grace Won

• 1993 Santa Fe Indian Market. Santa Fe, NM. Class. II – Pottery, Div. G – Traditional pottery, Cat. 1302 – Jars, Third Place
  – Cat. 1405 – Wedding vases, Second Place
  – Cat. 1413 – Miscellaneous, Second Place
• 1992 Santa Fe Indian Market. Santa Fe, NM. Class II – Pottery, Div. G – Traditional, Cat. 1413 – Miscellaneous, First Place
  – Cat. 1411 – Other figures, Second Place
  – Cat. 1401 – Seed bowls, Third Place
• 1991 Santa Fe Indian Market. Santa Fe, NM. Class. II – Pottery, Div. G – Traditional, Cat. 1401 – seed bowls, First Place
  – Cat. 1402, Second Place
• 1990 Santa Fe Indian Market. Santa Fe, NM. Class. II – Pottery, Div. G – Traditional, Cat. 1207 – Seed bowls, Second Place
  – Cat. 1218 – Miscellaneous, First Place
• 1989 Santa Fe Indian Market. Santa Fe, NM. Class. II – Pottery, Div. F – Traditional, Cat. 1202 – Jars. Acoma or Laguna, Third Place
• 1986 Santa Fe Indian Market. Santa Fe, NM. Class. II – Pottery, Div. G – Traditional, Cat. 1215, Miscellaneous, First Place
  – Cat. 1208 – Wedding vases, Third Place
• 14th Annual Scottsdale National Indian Arts Exhibition. Safari Hotel Convention Center. Scottsdale, AZ. Section C – Crafts, Class. VIII – Pottery, Div. A – Traditional, Part 1 – Pueblo, Third Place