Ebelacker, Richard

Richard Ebelacker was born into Santa Clara Pueblo in March 1946. His parents were Virginia Ebelacker and Robert Ebelacker. His maternal grandparents were Margaret Tafoya and Alcario Tafoya. He grew up learning how to make pottery from his mother and grandmother. Margaret especially taught him how to make exceptionally large redware and blackware pots.

Out of high school, Richard gave the US Marine Corps 2 years of his life, then he went to work at Los Alamos National Laboratory until he retired. He made pottery on the side, something to do to help him relax. That led to his participation in the Santa Fe Indian Market for more than 25 years, earning many awards in that time.

When Richard was 25 years old, he was a participant in the 1974 Seven Families in Pueblo Pottery exhibit at the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. His work was also included with Margaret Tafoya’s and others in the 1985 gallery show at the Sid Deusch gallery in Manhattan.

After an illustrious career, Richard passed on in 2010.

Some of the Awards earned by Richard

• 2004 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II – Pottery, Div. C – Traditional pottery, carved or incised, in style of San Juan, San Ildefonso, Santa Clara, Cat. 1006 – Miscellaneous, First Place
• 2001 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class. II – Pottery, Div. B – Traditional, Cat. 906 – Miscellaneous, Third Place;
  Div. C – Traditional, carved or incised, Best of Division;
  – Cat. 1005 – Miscellaneous, First Place
• 1999 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II – Pottery, Div. A – Traditional, Cat. 902 – Jars, First Place and Second Place;
  – Cat. 906 – Wedding Vases, Third Place
• 1997 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II – Pottery, Div. A – Traditional, Cat. 902 – Jars, Third Place;
  – Cat. 906 – Wedding vases, Second Place;
  – Div. C – Traditional, Cat. 1006 – Wedding vases, First Place
• 1996 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class. II – Pottery, Div. A – Traditional, Cat. 902 – Jars, Third Place;
  – Cat. 906 – Wedding vases, Third Place;
  – Div. B – Traditional, Cat. 906 – Wedding vases, Third Place
• 1995 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class. II – Pottery, Cat. 905 – Other bowls, Third Place
• 1994 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II – Pottery, Div. D – Traditional, carved, Cat. 1106 – Wedding Jars, Second Place
• 1993 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II – Pottery, Large Pottery Award;
  – Div. B – Traditional undecorated, Best of Division;
  – Cat. 902 – Jars, Second and Third Place;
  – Cat. 906 – Wedding vases, First Place;
  – Cat. 1102 – Jars, Second Place
• 1992 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II – Pottery, Cat. 902 – Jars, First Place and Second Place;
  – Div. B – Traditional, undecorated, Best of Division
• 1991 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class. II – Pottery, Best of Classification;
  – Div. B – Best of Division;
  – Cat. 902 – Jars, First Place
• 1988 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class. II – Pottery, jar over 8 inches tall, Second Place
• 1986 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class. II – Pottery, carved red jar, First Place
  – Carved red jar with serpent design, Second Place
  – Red water jar, Second Place
  – Carved red jar, Third Place
• 1985 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class. II – Pottery, Red water jar, First Place
  – Red wedding vase, Second Place
• 1983 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class. II – Pottery, Div. D – Traditional, carved, Third Place
• 1982 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class. II – Pottery, traditional carved pottery, Second Place
• 1981 Santa Fe Indian Market, Class. II – Pottery, Best of Division
  – Traditional carved pottery, First Place
• 1980 Santa Fe Indian Market. Traditional carved pottery, Third Place
• 1979 Santa Fe Indian Market. Second Place for a black and white jar
• 1978 Santa Fe Indian Market. First Place for a carved water jar
• 1977 Santa Fe Indian Market. Second Place for a melon bowl;
  – Third Place for a wedding vase