Helen Hardin

Helen Hardin (May 28, 1943 – June 9, 1984) (Tewa name: Tsa-sah-wee-eh, which means "Little Standing Spruce") was a Tewa Native American painter. She started making and selling paintings, participated in the University of Arizona's Southwest Indian Art Project and was featured in Seventeen magazine, all before she was 18 years of age. Creating art was a means of spiritual expression that developed from her Roman Catholic upbringing and Native American heritage. She created contemporary works of art with geometric patterns based upon Native American symbols and motifs, like corn, katsinas, and chiefs. In 1976 she was featured in the PBS American Indian artists series.

Early life and education Helen Hardin was born on May 28, 1943, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the daughter of Pablita Velarde, Santa Clara Pueblo artist, and Herbert Hardin, a European-American former police officer and Chief of Public Safety. Hardin's first language was Tewa. She was named Tsa-Sah-Wee-Eh at a naming ceremony at the Santa Clara Pueblo about a month after she was born. Hardin was raised by her artistic mother and her family at the Santa Clara Pueblo and she went to school and lived among the Anglo world for much of her life. She saw herself as "Anglo socially and Indian in [her] art." At six years of age Hardin won first prize for a drawing.

She studied drafting Other filmed artists included R. C. Gorman, Charles Loloma, Allan Houser, Joseph Lonewolf, and Fritz Scholder.

Via Gambaro Gallery, which was launched by Retha Walden Gambaro and Stephen Gambaro to spotlight contemporary Native American artists, included Hardin's work in its 1980 National American Indian Women's Art Show.

At her death at the age of 41, Hardin was recognized as one of the finest and most innovative Indian artists of her generation. She was among the first modern Indian painters to combine her non-Indian art materials and techniques with an Indian sensibility, merging past and present in a new way. — Liz Sonneborn

Personal life In 1973 Hardin married Cradoc Bagshaw, a professional photographer.

Awards She received honors for her work at the Heard Museum, Scottsdale National Indian Arts Exhibition, Philbrook Art Center, the Inter-Tribal Ceremonial at Gallup, New Mexico, and the Santa Fe Indian Market.

Works A select number of her works include:

Bountiful Mother, 1980, 45.7 × 40.64 cm, etching and intaglio Changing Woman Medicine Talk, 1964, approximately 71.12 × 35.56 cm, casein Medicine Woman, 1981, approx. 61 × 45.7 cm, four-color copper plate etching.