Jose Encarnacion Peña Explained

Jose Encarnacion Peña
Alt:Jose Encarnacion Peña
Other Names:Encarnacion Peña,
So Kwa Wi,
So Kwa A Weh
Birth Name:Soqween
Birth Date:1902
Birth Place:San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico, U.S.
Death Date:1979
Education:Santa Fe Indian School
Known For:Painting
Spouse:Patricia Peña

Jose Encarnacion Peña, also known as Encarnacion Peña, and Soqween (1902–1979) was a Native American painter from San Ildefonso Pueblo in Santa Fe County, New Mexico.[1] [2] He is best known for his watercolors of Pueblo ceremonies[3] and he was an early participant in the San Ildefonso school and later in the "Santa Fe Studio Style" art movement.

History

Born in 1902 in San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico. His name Soqween (So Kwa Wi, So Kwa A Weh) translates to "Frost on the Mountain".[4] His aunt was potter Maria Martinez. In the 1920s he was painting in the San Ildefonso Pueblo alongside many of the other early San Ildefonso school artists. In the early 1930s, Pena studied with painting with Dorothy Dunn at "The Studio" of the Santa Fe Indian School.

His artwork was exhibited widely including at the Riverside Museum (1969) in New York City;[5] Renaissance Society (1958) in Chicago;[6] Santa Fe Indian Market (1959, winning first place for painting at the Fiesta Indian Market),[7] and many others.

Peña work is included in public museum collections including the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Denver Art Museum,[8] Cleveland Museum of Art,[9] National Anthropological Archives,[10] Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, among others.

He was married to Patricia Peña, a doll maker. He was a mentor and influential to artist Amado Maurilio Peña, Jr (born 1943).[11] [12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Photographs of Jose Encarnacion Peña murals and Patricia Peña dolls. Smithsonian Online Virtual Archive (SOVA). 2020-04-25.
  2. Web site: Untitled (Aranos of the East and West Fighting because of no rain). The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
  3. Book: Matuz, Roger. St. James Guide to Native North American Artists. St. James Press. 1998. 9781558622210. 532.
  4. Book: King, Jeanne Snodgrass. American Indian painters; a biographical directory. 1968. New York : Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation. Smithsonian Libraries.
  5. Gruen. John. Mar 17, 1969. Art In New York, No Reservations Needed. New York Magazine. New York Media. 2. 11. 59. 0028-7369. Google Books.
  6. Web site: Encarnacion Pena. The Renaissance Society. en. 2020-04-25.
  7. Web site: Fiesta Awards Espanola Valley Pueblos are well-represented in the awards given at the Fiesta Indian Market in Santa Fe recently. September 17, 1959. Newspapers.com. Rio Grande Sun from Espanola, New Mexico. 11. en. 2020-04-25.
  8. Web site: Buffalo Dance. Denver Art Museum. en. 2020-04-25.
  9. Web site: Collection: Dance Figure. Cleveland Museum of Art. 31 October 2018 .
  10. Web site: Patricia Peña photograph of José Encarnacion Peña dressed as koshari, 1978. Smithsonian Institution. en. 2020-04-25.
  11. Web site: Master artist presents one-man show for Arlington. May 22, 1985. Newspapers.com. Fort Worth Star-Telegram from Fort Worth, Texas. 183. en. 2020-04-25.
  12. Web site: El Taller offer's Pena's Perspective. October 24, 1992. Newspapers.com. Austin American-Statesman from Austin, Texas. 115. en. 2020-04-25.