Storyteller

Description:	Clay figures have been present in the Pueblo culture since 400 A.D. Female figures, animals, birds and more recently the storyteller figure have been part of their tradition. The “singing mother” with several children sitting on her lap was introduced by Cochiti artist Helen Cordero. In the 1960s, Helen created the first official grandfather-like storyteller that was modeled from her own grandfather and his storytelling skills. Storytellers reveal the importance of oral tradition amongst Pueblo children--they teach about Pueblo culture, heritage and beliefs through abstract stories. Today, many Pueblo communities create storyteller figures. The word “storyteller” has taken a generic form and is used to describe not only the male figures, but female figures, clowns, turtles, bears, coyotes, and other non-traditional characters. All of these figures are classified as “storytellers” because of the many children gathered around them. This particular storyteller is female and was made by Jemez Pueblo artist Rose Pecos-Sun Rhodes.
Source:	http://www.digitalindy.org/cdm/ref/collection/tcm/id/62
Collection:	The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Rights:	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/;
Copyright:	Creative Commons (CC By-SA 3.0);
Geography:	New Mexico
Subjects:	Indians of North America Pueblo Indians Pueblo Indians -- Social life and customs Clay figurines -- Southwest, New Storytellers in art Pueblo pottery

Further information on this record can be found at its source.