Frank Raymond LaPena, known as Frank LaPena and by his Wintu name Tauhindauli, was a Nomtipom-Wintu American Indian painter, printmaker, ethnographer, professor, ceremonial dancer, poet, and writer.
15 Facts About Frank LaPena
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Frank LaPena taught at California State University, Sacramento, between 1975 and 2002.
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Frank Raymond LaPena was born on October 5,1937, in San Francisco, California, to parents Evelyn Gladys and Henry LaPena.
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Frank LaPena's family was of the Nomtipom-Wintu tribe, and from an early age he started learning about traditions from his elders and neighboring tribes including the Nomlaki Wintun.
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Frank LaPena received a BA degree in 1965 from California State University, Chico, and his MA degree in 1978 in anthropology from California State University, Sacramento.
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Frank LaPena started teaching at Shasta College, from 1969 to 1971.
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Frank LaPena taught at California State University, Sacramento within the art department and ethnic studies department, and serving as the director of the Native American studies department, between 1975 and 2002.
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Frank LaPena lectured on traditional and cultural Native American issues, which included the California traditions.
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Frank LaPena was frequent contributor to the journal, News from Native California, between the late-1980s until the 2000s.
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Frank LaPena starting exhibiting his artwork in 1960 in a gallery in Chico.
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Frank LaPena's artwork was shown nationally, as well as in Europe, Central and South America, Cuba, Australia and New Zealand.
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Frank LaPena created work in various mediums including in painting, printmaking, silversmithing, photography, woodworking, and others.
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Frank LaPena served as a co-curator of the traveling exhibition, The Extension of Tradition: Contemporary Northern California Native American Art in Cultural Perspective at Crocker Art Museum and Palm Springs Art Museum.
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Frank LaPena had been married to Catherine Alice Sell Skinner, from August 19,1966, to April 12,1984, and ending in divorce.
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Together they had two children, and Frank LaPena had five step-children.