HELEN HARDIN

- HELEN HARDIN (TSA-SAH-WEE-EH) -

Santa Clara Pueblo, 1943-1984

Helen Hardin (Tewa name: Tsa-sah-wee-eh, which means "Little Standing Spruce") was a Native American painter. She started making and selling paintings, participated in 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.