Ebelacker, Virginia

Virginia Ebelacker was born to Alcario and Margaret Tafoya in 1925. She grew up among some of the finest potters Santa Clara Pueblo has ever known. Her father taught her the fundamentals of design while her aunt (Christina Naranjo) taught Virginia and her cousin, Mary Cain, how to create their first pottery figures.

After that auspicious beginning, Virginia finished her formal schooling and went to work at Los Alamos National Laboratory. There she was a highly skilled technician doing research work in metallurgy and plastics, eventually earning awards for her contributions to the scientific study of both. When she went home at night she relaxed by painting and creating pottery and jewelry.

Virginia met Richard Ebelacker (a Dutch scientist) at the Lab and, in his words, “Love flowed over those test tubes.” They were married not long after and Richard, their first son, was born in 1946.

Virginia learned to make large pottery jars when she was young and she passed that skill on to her sons, James and Richard. Both became award-earning potters who made large black jars and red jars throughout their careers.

Virginia was known for her large carved redware and blackware jars, water jars, vases, bowls and storage jars, as well as her paintings, jewelry and leatherwork.

Over the years Virginia earned many ribbons and awards for her pottery. She earned the Maria Martinez-Popovi Da Award for Best in Traditional Pottery at the 1976 Santa Fe Indian Market and the overall Award for Excellence at Indian Market in 1985. She passed on in 2001.

Some Awards Earned by Virginia

  • 2001 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II – Pottery, Div. B – Traditional undecorated, Cat. 901 – Jars, Third Place
  • 1996 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class. II – Pottery, Div. C – Traditional, Cat. 1002 – Jars, Second Place
    – Cat. 1009 – Miscellaneous, Second and Third Place
  • 1993 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II – Pottery, Cat. 1101 – Jars, Second Place
  • 1992 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class. II – Pottery, Cat. 902 – Jars over 8″ tall, Second and Third Place
  • 1991 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class. II – Pottery, Div. C – Traditional, Cat. 1102 – Jars over 8″, Second Place
  • 1989 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class. II – Pottery, Div. D – Traditional, Cat. 1002 – Jars, Third Place
  • 1985 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class. II – Pottery, Div. B – Traditional pottery; Mr. and Mrs. John Barry Award
  • 1983 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class. II – Pottery, Div. B – Second Place
    – Div. D – Traditional, carved, Second Place
  • 1974-12th Annual Scottsdale National Indian Arts Exhibition. Safari Hotel Convention Center. Scottsdale, AZ. Section C – Crafts, Class. VIII – Pottery, Div. A – Traditional, Part 2 – New Mexico, First Place, Best of Show
  • 1973 Heard Museum Guild Indian Arts and Crafts Exhibit, Classification XII – Pottery, Division A – Traditional shapes and designs: First Place
  • 1972-11th Annual Scottsdale National Indian Arts Exhibition. Safari Hotel Convention Center. Scottsdale, AZ. Section C – Crafts, Class. VIII – Pottery, Div. A – Traditional, Part 1 – Arizona, First Place
  • 1971-10th Annual Scottsdale National Indian Arts Exhibition. Safari Hotel Convention Center. Scottsdale, AZ. Section C – Crafts, Class. VIII – Pottery, Div. A – Traditional, Part 2, New Mexico, Third Place
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