SANTA CLARA AND SAN JUAN

Click on the photograph for an enlarged view.

     We are fortunate to be working directly with Autumn Borts from Santa Clara. She comes from a long line of distinguished and talented potters. Her great grandmother was Christina Naranjo, her grandmother is Mary Cain, her mother is Linda Cain, and her sister is Tammy Garcia. These women have contributed so much to the world of traditional pottery from the Santa Clara Pueblo.
    A review of Autumn's work in Native Peoples Magazine states, "Autumn Borts has quietly arrived at her place among the best of today's contemporary ceramicists. Her unhurried but steady climb upward over the past ten years has been marked by many successes, among them several important commissions (including one from the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe), inclusion in a number of distinguished museum and gallery exhibitions, and, most recently, acceptance into Santa Fe Indian Market. "Pottery ties me to an ancient tradition; it connects me to my ancestors. Knowing that a thousand grandmothers did this before me is amazing, and to have been born into this heritage is a gift."
    Autumn is interested in continuing to create the old style shapes and designs in her work, as well as exploring new, more contemporary pieces. She works in both black ware, and red and tans, creating her own polychrome elements with floral patterns, figurative designs, and other new shapes. We are so pleased every time we acquire a new piece from her, as each one is different from the others, and each one has its own unique qualities.
    This seed bowl is deeply carved, with a flowing avanyu on the top, and arrow and waves on the bottom. Autumn was trying to achieve an almost deep brown cast to the firing - so the color is wonderful - a slight off black.

#SC1075 - 3 3/4 " high by 5 1/2 " wide
Price: $2900 SOLD

     Dolores Curran is the daughter of the late Ursalita Naranjo, and the sister of the well known potter, Jeri Naranjo. Dolores has won almost every prize there is for her pots that have the cream colored painting on top of a red polished pot. The intricacy of her painting is almost unbelievable. When you look at them up close, it is hard to understand just how a person can have such a steady hand. Her wok is highly collectible and widely sought after. She won BEST OF DIVISION at the Santa Fe Indian Market, and has won accolades wherever her pots are seen. For anyone ?nterested in the finest miniatures made, these pots would be a noteworthy addition to your collection.
     This is a PERFECT miniature vase. Just look at the precision of Dolores' work. Each image - be it a feather, or step design, or clouds, - each and every element she uses is painted to perfection. No wonder she has won so many awards and received such accolades for her work. She is utterly fabulous.

#SC0823- 2 1/4" high
Price: $795

     This is an absolutely exquisite lidded round box. Dolores combined the San Juan carved and painted style of pottery with the more classic Santa Clara painted designs. Both the bottom portion of the pot and the lid are painted in her buff on red style. But the entire center section of the pot is carved in the matte style, and additional clay slips are added for the polychrome look. The carved dragonflies, mountains, clouds, and step patterns are beautifully incorporated into the body of the pot. The complexity of this design work is phenomenal. Yet it is not over done the pattern is not overly busy just gorgeous. The pained avanyu lid fits perfectly. This is one of the nicest new pieces we have had from Dolores in quite a while.

#SC855 - 2" high by 2 1/8" wide
Price: $995 SOLD

     What a wonderful combination of techniques – coiling, painting, carving, and slip work. Dolores is one of our best miniaturists, and here we get to see new images, The parrot, sun, and floral elements all work so well together. Using the San Juan style of carving, this is an absolutely marvelous mini vase.

#SC966 - 3 1/2" high by 2 1/4" wide
Price: $1150

      Debra was born in Espanola, just outside the Pueblo. She has lived her whole life in Santa Clara, but she spent her summers with her grandparents in Manitou Springs, Colorado. They were the caretakers of the Cliff Dwellings Museum. Her grandparents spoke only Tewa to her. Debra started making pottery in 1979. Her mother, Genevieve Gutierrez was her main teacher. Debra had been the Secretary to the Dean at the Institute of American India Arts in Santa Fe, but now she is a full time potter. All her work is made in the most traditional ways .She specializes in highly polished seed bowls with the most intricate, detailed etching of designs. She mixes and combines slips to make her pots black and red. Using cord wood, cow, and horse manure, she fires her pieces right behind her house. Her exquisite carvings are made with sharply pointed scribes, cut from the handles of chain-saw files. She often carves turtles, hummingbirds, sun-faced designs, clouds, and Kiva steps. I think her SGRAFFITO techniques allow her to create some of the nicest pieces of pottery available today. She is married to Preston Duwyenie, the well known Hopi potter.
     This new plate combines the polychrome turtles and dragonflies. The incising is so exacting and precise. The red tones blend so nicely with the matte background of the natural clay. Debra explained to me that you can see what directions the turtles are swimming, and notice that the dragonflies are guiding them in those same directions. Look closely at the stair stepped pattern on the natural clay, as it moves around the whole plate, bordered by the solid mica red rim. This is a beautiful plate.

#SC389 - 7 1/2" wide
Price: $1400

     Turtles, dragonflies, clouds, and avanyu – all depicted on this one piece. The polishing here is fantastic – like glass! What a lovely pot.

#SC3810 - 2 1/2" high by 3 1/4" wide
Price: $650

     This seed pot by Debra is a beautiful creation of circular flowing patterns. The red toned Sun Face is in the center of the pot creating the central theme. Seven colorful turtles are swimming around in a way that shows great movement. The back of the pot is simple and elegantly polished red. This is a particularly nice composition.

#SC3811 - 3 1/2" high by 2 1/2" wide
Price: $450 SOLD

     Across the board, people believe that Grace Medicine Flower is certainly one the most important contemporary potters of our time. She is a member of the famous Tafoya family of Santa Clara. Her well-known father, Camilio (Sunlower) Tafoya was Margaret Tafoya's brother. Grace was born in 1938, and at an early age learned to make pottery. With her brother Joseph Lonewolf, they pioneered the art of sgraffito - carving and incising delicate designs into unfired pieces of pottery. Over the years, Grace and Joseph elevated that tradition into perfection. Grace is able to create perfectly constructed and etched miniatures, as well as larger decorated and polished vessels. Grace has stated, "I thank God for giving me the hands to create pottery. I talk to the the Clay Lady and promise to do my best to make her beautiful." Grace has been able to integrate traditional methods of pottery construction with her own strong sense of a personal history. She is one of those magnificent potters that combine tradition with innovation, and we are so fortunate to be able to see the results of her timeless commitment to this art form.
     Oh my – It is startling sometimes to see what Grace can create. Over the years, she continues to delight us with her efforts and her skills. Every single bowl she creates is different from the last one. She never knows until she is well into the creation of the piece, just how it will turn out. I had requested fish, she took off on that theme, and here is the finished concept. It is magnificent. The polychrome bowl has beautifully carved and multicolored fish. Grace has added mica melon ribs on one side and polished swirls and other geometric patterns on the other side. There are both soft curves, and deep angles, and contrasting matte and polished areas on the bowl. She even has bubbles coming out of the mouths of many fish. Look how far inside the pot Grace has put fish – a very difficult task, then turn the piece over, and they appear again on the bottom. One can see why she was honored this summer with the SWAIA Lifetime Achievement Award.

#SC1162 - 4 3/4" high by 4 1/2" wide
Price: $6900 SOLD

     We just love the colors in this older piece by Grace, made in the early 80s. It shows intricately incised designs as well as a terrific use of color. The blue and white in the butterfly wings is such a nice contrast to the green in the floral patterns. This is a perfect seed jar for someone who is collecting a variety of work by Grace. At every period in her career, different skills are highlighted, and here, the incising and color take a front position!

#SC566 - 2 3/4" high by 2 1/2" wide
Price: $1800

     Jody Folwell is one of the most important innovators of our time. She experiments with abstraction, composition, movement, themes and textures. Because of her work with different slips and firing techniques, her polished pieces take on different colors, shades, and textures all within the same piece of pottery. For those of us who have become interested in contemporary pueblo ceramics, the importance of Jody Folwell is now a matter of record. Her courageous deviations form the traditions of her time are an inspiration for other potters for years to come.
     You can see the influence of the Northwest Coast on this marvelous large bowl. The trademark asymmetrical lip is there, polished to a high brown sheen. But then Jody has incised flowing bird images around the entire pot. The tones on the piece range from dark brown to tan. This pot is a true work of art.

#SC377 - 8" high by 9 1/2 " wide
Price: $4800

      Plain, simple, beautiful, elegant – a these terms apply to Jody’s elegant work. Here is an example of her bowl that has been rag polished. The lip is a beautiful shiny, black tone, and as you move down the bowl, wonderful gradations of brown appear. As we have discussed many times, Jody is such an innovator is terms of form and finishing elements.

#SC12715 - 6 3/4 " high by 9 1/2" wide
Price: $3600

      Polly Rose, daughter of esteemed potter, Jody Folwell, is an incredible potter in her own right. Like her mother, and sister (Susan) she too, has won numerous awards. Born in 1962, she has been creating beautiful pieces of traditional pottery for many years now. So many of the breakthroughs made by her mother are also evidenced in Polly's works. She is both imaginative and creative. Her polishing skills rival many other potters. Polly Rose just recently won the 2003 Best of Pottery award at the annual Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market.
    This new piece by Polly shows off so many of her terrific skills-all in one pot. The shape is great -- rounded and smooth. The uneven opening is beautifully formed. The classic "Folwell browns" are in place -- variations of hues of brown. This time she has a contemporary flair -- adding the dots on the upper quadrant of the pot. It is marvelous.

#SC258 - 4 1/2" high by 4 1/2" wide
Price: $1200 SOLD

     Goldenrod is the name used by Santa Clara potter Gloria Garcia. Gloria, with the assistance of her husband, John, creates beautiful sgraffito pottery. Both of these potters come from well respected families. Gloria is the daughter of the late Petra Gutierrez and the sister of Minnie Vigil, Thelma Talachy and Lois de la Cruz (Lois and Derek). John is the half-brother of Tina Garcia, Greg Garcia and Virginia Garcia. Gloria and John's pottery collaboration has been most fruitful as they have won many awards and appeared in shows all over the United States.
      This is one of Goldenrod's best designs; the plumed water serpent. Carved and painted so well, the additional red color really makes this miniature bowl jump out at you. Great work!

#SC856- 1 3/4 " high by 2 " wide
Price: $395

     Gloria Garcia is one of most consistent creators of miniature pottery. She incises wonderful imagery into her work. Here is a new example of a lovely black polished seed bowl with hummingbirds and butterflies. The use of reds and blacks together on this piece is terrific. Gloria has won numerous awards for her pottery over the years at Santa Fe Indian Market and has work in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC.

#SC3812 - 2 1/2" high by 2 3/4" wide
Price: $650

     Greg Garcia is the son of Lydia Tafoya and grandson of Severa Tafoya. Both he, and his sisters (Tina and Virginia) are known for their well polished, traditional Santa Clara ware. He has been making pottery for many years, and makes simple, elegant forms and shapes. His work is always clean and well defined.
    Greg is so good at these classic Santa Clara shapes. Here is the jar, with the scalloped lip, and wonderful polishing on this beautiful black vase. Very nice, in every way!

#SC10513 - 5 1/4" high by 5 1/4" wide
Price: $425

     Sharon Garcia is the granddaughter of the esteemed Santa Clara potter Christina Naranjo. Sharon's mother passed away while Sharon was quite young and it was Christina who raised her and had a profound influence on her life. Sharon learned to pot from Christina and when Christina died in 1980 Sharon began to pot full time in order to feel connected to her. Sharon has become a fine potter working in styles ranging from classic undecorated jars to traditional carved Santa Clara pottery.
     In July 2003, Sharon won the "Best of Show" award at the Eight Northern Pueblo Show, winning the highest possible award in the show. She says, "I feel very lucky to be able to earn money doing what I love."
     This water jar is one of the most elegant shapes made. It is spectacular. The simple bear paw at the top of the jar, sitting just underneath the scalloped opening is wonderful. The double bellied center of the jar, hard to coil in such a symmetric way is stunning. We are so please to show this beautiful new water jar from Sharon.

#SC388 - 10 1/2" high by 10" wide
Price: $2400

      Here is another example of a black polished water jar, new from Sharon. This one shows the scalloped lip with the impressed ribs on the neck of the jar moving down to the double shoulder area. It is a great shape.

#SC7711 - 7 1/2" high by 6" wide
Price: $500

     Tina was born in Oregon in 1957 and moved to Santa Clara Pueblo at the age of 5. Growing up, she watched her mother, Lydia Garcia; grandmother, Severa Tafoya; and aunt, Angela Baca, make black pottery. She started potting herself at the age of 11 and showed much early talent which was encouraged by her mother. In 1980, Tina decided to make pottery for a living. She went to the School of American Research to study their collections and after careful consideration decided to focus on classic traditional shapes without the carving typical of Santa Clara pottery. She was one of the finest potters working in this undecorated style. She won numerous awards with the following some of the highlights: Santa Fe Indian Market- Best of Division 1986, Best of Division 1996, and First Places virtually every year. She was honored with  The Katherine and Miguel Otero Award for Excellence in Any Category 1995.
   Tina specialized in very traditional Santa Clara forms-bear paw impressions, shoulder vases, and gourd bowls. Her pieces were always beautifully polished with perfect symmetry. Her brother Greg, is also known for his lovely coiling and polishing.
   This is a shape that Tina did not make too often – and it is gorgeous. A wonderful large size, it has a wide bottom, tall thin neck, and a scalloped opening. It is so simple and elegant – the attributes that made Tina such a collectible Santa Clara artist. The red is deep and rich, and the polishing is excellent. We just acquired this from a collector who bought this piece from Tina in 1994. The jar is in perfect condition. For anybody that collects classic Santa Clara shapes, this would be a marvelous addition to that collection

#SC7715 - 11 3/4" high by 11 1/4" wide
Price: $2700 SOLD

     Denny Gutierrez (born 1942) is a traditional Santa Clara potter, who has had many careers. Years ago, he was taught to pot by his mother Katherine Gutierrez, but potted only part time while working full time as an electrician. In the early 1990's, as his style evolved and his quality improved, he was able to stop working and devote himself full time to his pottery. Then in January 2000 he was elected Governor of Santa Clara Pueblo, a position he held for four years. He made very little potter at that time.
     In January 2004 Denny left office and has resumed potting. He specializes in unique melon pots in that they have an almost "faceted" look to them. The pot is so graceful and well balanced in form and design. As the light hits those special angles, the pot just glistens. Denny has been honored with many first place ribbons and awards at Indian Market in
Santa Fe. We are always happy to acquire new work from him

#SC967 - 4 1/4" high by 3 1/2" wide
Price: $495

     Vickie was taught to pot by her grandmother, Flora Naranjo and her mother, Barbara Martinez. In the late 1980s she dated Stella Chavarria's son and both Stella and Teresita Naranjo encouraged her to improve and take her pottery more seriously. It is clearly evident that she followed their advice. The influence of both Stella and Teresita is apparent in her style. Today Vickie makes elegant pottery at affordable prices. This large black bowl has both the avanyu and the carved feathers. The avanyu has a soft, curved, flowing feel about it – very traditional Santa Clara imagery.

#SC5721 - 8 1/2" wide by 10 1/2" high
Price: $990

     Jennifer Moquino is one of the brightest new artists from Santa Clara pueblo working in the sgraffito area. Her incising work is particularly detailed and precise -- revealing great accuracy and fabulous use of color. Her themes are of wildlife and fish in stunning realist detail with fabulous traditional Santa Clara geometrics adding a great finish to her work.
     Jennifer is the daughter of Emily Suazo-Tafoya and Ray Tafoya. She and her husband, Mike Moquino, work together, and are producing outstanding work. Last year, in 2004, Jennifer was honored with BEST OF POTTERY at Indian Market, in Santa Fe. She continues to expand her repertoire of designs and shapes. Every new piece of incised pottery by Jennifer is unique and special. As her images continue to change, she continues to use natural slips and pigments, that make for wonderful finished work!
      The workmanship on this seed vase is absolutely phenomenal. Two medallions have been created – each one depicting a different bird; a gorgeous wild turkey and quail. The placement of these medallions is creative, and then the precise detailing of the birds is remarkable. The pine cone and floral elements separating the medallions are great, as are the peach and blue elements around the rim of each medallion.  All the natural colors are soft and muted an accurate view of what these birds look like in nature.

#SC183- 3 1/2 " high by 2 1/2 " wide
Price: $900 SOLD

     Working on different animal forms, Jennifer has deigned a realistic and stunning new seed vase with FOXES. One medallion has an incised family of foxes, while the other one has a fox with soaring birds above. These circles are separated by beautiful pine cones. It is a wonderful creation.

#SC384- 3 " high by 2 1/2 " wide
Price: $900