About Greyshoes

Upton Ethelbah, Jr., a.k.a. Greyshoes, began working as a sculptor at the age of 54. Today, his award-winning sculptures are collectors' items. Ethelbah's first bronze, "Pueblo Corn Dancer," was judged best contemporary Native American art work at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center in 1999. He is now working on a seven-foot high, three-ton Texas limestone sculpture representing Santa Clara Pueblo, which was commissioned for the Poeh Arts Center at Pojoaque Pueblo. Ethelbah works exclusively in stone: soapstone, limestone, alabaster, and marble. "My goal is to work in stone for the next 30 years. At some time in the future, because of age, I may need to roll over to wood or clay, but my goal is to continue to work in stone." After a lifelong career in education and social work, Ethelbah, a Viet Nam era veteran of the U.S. Navy, traded pen and paper for sculpting tools after a friend presented him with a chunk of red and green alabaster. In finding subject matter for his carvings, Ethelbah draws on his Apache and Pueblo heritage to create images that have Native American themes. Although he calls Santa Clara Pueblo home, Ethelbah now lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is a 1961 graduate of Sandia high school, a 1971 graduate of the University of New Mexico and a 2000 graduate of the Poeh Arts Center. Ethelbah served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Southwest Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA), which produces the Santa Fe Indian Market, from 2002-2003. Greyshoes has two talented sons, Upton III (30) who is a musician and graphic designer (www.daffodilmusic.com, www.donmickey.com), and Lucas Kwa-ay (25) who is also a musician and culinarian (www.kingrush.com, www.chocolatemaven.com).