SANTA CLARA AND SAN JUAN

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     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.
     When Autumn creates an all black pot – just simple and elegant and so deeply carved, it is often a real piece of beauty. Here is a perfect example of her black ware – dragonflies and cattails – all beautifully carved and polished. The small bowl flows with movement from the top to the bottom!

#SC395 - 3" high by 4 1/2" wide
Price: $3200 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 work 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 interested in the finest miniatures made, these pots would be a noteworthy addition to your collection.
     We all know that Dolores is an amazing painter. Sometimes a piece comes along that just knocks you out a bit. For me, this is one of them! This is one of the most exacting, meticulously painted jars I have seen. The level of workmanship seen here is at the highest level. The white on red lidded bowl is simply phenomenal. The double sided carved stair stepped lid stopper adds another degree of visual interest. It is painted tan on one side, and terra cotta on the other. In total – this is an extraordinary piece of pottery!

#SC7119- 3” high by 2 ½” wide
Price: $1150 SOLD

     Dolores is doing absolutely exquisite work in black. Carving, incising, and polishing – it all works so well. Notice how the lid for the box is polished and painted so well. It really gives off such a finished look. Stylized turtles and butterflies are carved on a mica background giving the box a true three Dimensional effect. The polished rim on the bottom of the box matches the polished lip on the lid, adding such symmetry to the piece. This is magnificent!

#SC3118 -2 ¾” high by 1 ¾” wide
Price: $650

     This is the largest bowl we have had from Ursula. Like her miniatures, it is perfect in every way. The polishing and firing on this piece is incomparable. It absolutely glistens! The central image at the top is the Avanyu. Below it rows of symbolic painting is precisely executed. We are so pleased that Ursula is trying different sizes and shapes. She is certainly a young potter to watch.

#SC5116 -2 1/8” high by 3 ¼” wide
Price: $650

     This miniature seed pot is absolutely gorgeous. Painted to perfection, not only is there a lovely Avanyu running through the center of the bowl, but there is a detailed checkerboard black on black pattern above the water serpent. It is really magnificent.

#SC121016 -1 ½” high by 1 ¾” wide
Price: $450

      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 center of the plate reveals a beautiful Sunface in the deep red tones. 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 cloud pattern, polished on the natural clay, as it borders magnificent Avanyu all around the rim. This is a beautiful plate; even the back is magnificently polished to a high glossy finish. Debra’s exceptional work is so distinguishable.

#SC71110 - 4 ½” wide
Price: $650 SOLD

      This exquisite round seed bowl has over 32 incised hummingbirds, and even more flowers. The hummingbirds are in different poses, outstretched wings, looking for nectar, flying, and resting. It is absolutely incredible work. The polishing on the seed bowl is resplendent. It is one of the most stunning pieces Debra has created in a long time. Just imagine the time it took her to so brilliantly incise these numerous images.

#SC71111 - 2 ¾” high by 3 ¼” wide
Price: $750

      Debra has recently been doing some beautiful black pieces. This seed bowl is expertly incised with a turtle on the top, then a circle of précised feathers. Below that are clouds and Avanyu and then stair stepped mountain images. The piece fired beautifully to a dark black hue.

#SC71112 - 2 ¾” high by 3 ¼” wide
Price: $550

     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.
     For this beautiful Mimbres insect jar, Grace has carved away at the mouth of the piece to create an asymmetrical opening. Note as well how she has carved through the clay to accent the designs. In the band across the neck the insects are all etched into the clay and highlighted with additional clay slips. Note the various levels of carving on the bowl! Grace has combined matte, polished and micaceous clay slips throughout the entire piece.

#SC3112 - 4 ¼” high by 4 ¾”wide
Price: $6000

     We haven’t had a miniature seed pot from Grace in over two years. This hummingbird seed bowl is so beautiful on every level. The carving, incising, and painting is all exceptionally executed. Three hummingbirds are flying around the opening of the bowl. The color combination of reds, greens, black, tan and terra cotta are gorgeous. The bottom is fully carved and painted in brown tones, and highly polished red tones. This is a sensational example of the polychrome work that Grace achieves in miniature size.

#SC9114 - 2 ½” high by 2 ¾” wide
Price: $2800 SOLD

     This flat black medallion pot shows such a nice balance and symmetry. The central medallion on the top of the piece is incised with butterflies and then feathers are carved around it, as if to make a beautiful border. A second medallion on the top is incised with a hummingbird getting nectar from the flowers. The rest of the top is deeply carved with stylized eagle tails. The matte bottom also has two medallions with the same hummingbird, flowers and butterfly. Grace was so meticulous on this piece and the carving and incising is exquisite. It is a wonderful example of her work in black.

#SC1191 - 1 3/4" high by 5 3/4" wide
Price: $5500

     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: $4550

     This vase is beautifully shaped with its asymmetric opening. The vase itself is a consistent red/brown polished piece with terrific incising of lizards and wolf. Matte areas are carved along with the gently incised squares, x’s and lines. The detail work is so complete.

#SC1086 - 5" high by 4 1/8 " wide
Price: $1450

      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, with the design work showing off so well on the top of the bowl. The uneven opening is beautifully formed and actually has a “notched” look – as she has carved into the actual lip of the pot. The classic "Folwell browns" are in place; variations of hues of brown. This time she has a contemporary flair, adding the wide band of designs in the foreground set against the incised X’s of varying sizes. The polishing throughout is terrific.

#SC396 - 4" high by 5 1/4" wide
Price: $1250

      Susan Folwell was born in 1970. She is the granddaughter of Rose Naranjo, and the daughter of Jody Folwell. Even though she grew up in a major pottery making family, Susan did not plan on being a potter herself. She studied design and fine arts photography at the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan, "My studies were focused on two dimensional design, but in pottery, one must think in a three dimensional way." After college, she worked for a professional photographer, but soon found that she was yearning for more creative expression. She soon returned home to New Mexico and began her professional life as a potter. While still using Native clays and firing techniques, Susan is now considered to be on the cutting edge of the contemporary pottery field. She uses her own designs and forms, combining various symbols from many Indian cultures. We have worked with Susan for several years now, and it has been such a delight to watch her grow and challenge herself as an artist. In a short number of years, she has become one of the most sought after Pueblo potters of our time.
     This is a very contemporary jar coiled by Susan. Multiple lizard images abound! Slipped in browns and tans, and incised on top and bottom, they all appear to be moving on the pot, not static in any way. Using them in the foreground set amongst geometric blocks, squares and circles adds great visual interest to the piece. She has used a combination of native clays and added paints added over some of the painted areas. This adds some real 3 D effects to the overall look. If you look at the lip of the jar, you can see beautifully incised “X” designs. This same theme is repeated with nine detailed rows of “X’s on the bottom of the jar. This shape is nicely conceived, a beautiful canvas for her imagery.

#SC5108 - 8” high by 5” wide
Price: $975

     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 a very nice sized seed bowl from Goldenrod. Magnificently incised, it depicts stately elk and deer. What is so interesting is that there is a central medallion with black and white geese in flight. The polishing is wonderful, and the added red slip to the geese medallion is perfect. The lip on this seed bowl has incising on it. Gloria always does such a wonderful job of incising. It is a pleasure to show her work.

#SC91112- 2 ½” high by 2 ¾” wide
Price: $600 SOLD

     This seed bowl is different from anything I have seen from Gloria. It shows a horse, but rather than typically standing on all fours, this horse is upright in almost a dancing position. A small rabbit sits the left of the horse. Like her other work, it is beautifully incised and magnificently polished.

#SC121015- 2 ½” high by 2 ½” wide
Price: $600

     Denny Gutierrez was born in 1942. His potting career has been filled with long periods of interruptions. Years ago he was taught to pot by his mother Katherine Gutierrez. He potted only part time while working full time as an electrician. In the early 1990s, as his unique style evolved and his quality improved, he was able to 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. Almost no pottery was made during that period. In January of 2004 Denny left office and returned to full time pottery making. He specializes in unique melon pots that have an almost faceted look to them. His polishing is so terrific that the pieces actually glisten.
     Here is a perfect example of Denny’s swirling, faceted melon bowl. It is shimmering, and beautifully coiled and polished. The lid fits very well and adds an extra height dimension to the bowl.

#SC5118 - 5” high by 3 ½” wide
Price: $425 SOLD

     In the late 1960’s, Joseph Lonewolf began using the sgraffito technique on his pottery. This technique was also used by his father, Camilio Tafoya, and sister Grace Medicine Flower. Using the tip of a pocketknife blade, he began to lightly scratch away the surface of the clay, creating precise animal designs. Using different amounts of pressure, he was able to create various effects on his pots. The pots are fired outside, in the traditional manner. Joseph signed each piece, and assigned a serial number to the bottom.
     This piece was made in 1997. It shows the Mimbres Deer in two tones of red. The back of the pot is polished to a very high sheen of red. A photo of Joseph holding this pot accompanies it.

#SC1109 - 1 ¾” high by 1 ¾” wide
Price: $1600

     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. 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!
      This is a perfectly gorgeous bowl with an underwater sea theme. The numbers of underwater creatures represented here are fantastic. It is so well incised; it has an almost 3D effect. Look at how precise the incising appears; the sharks are so lifelike. They are swimming in every direction, in the foreground and background. The plants that feed the fish are beautifully painted and incised. It is remarkable what realism Jennifer can produce. New for Jennifer, is the dolphin carved removable lid. The dolphins appear to be diving off the pot. It is fantastic. This is such a “complete” piece of pottery, with great attention to details.

#SC9118 - 4 ¾” high by 3 1/2” wide
Price: $3200 SOLD

     Made in 2000, this is a miniature seed bowl with lizards. Five colorful lizards are precisely incised on the bowl.

#SC10115 - 1 ½” high by 1 ½ wide
Price: $275

     Jennifer does a particularly terrific job when she incises bats! Made in 200, you can see the black bats flying around the jar. The neck has a repetitive feather pattern. The red veining on the bodies of the bats shows careful detail to her work.

#SC10116 - 2” high by 1 ¾” wide
Price: $325

     Jennifer has a way of putting so much detail on her work in a very small space. This bear lidded box creates an entire scene –Snow capped mountains, forests, the river with swimming fish. It’s delightful!

#SC10117 - 2” high by 1 ¾” wide
Price: $475 SOLD

     It’s been over a year that we received any butterfly pots from Jennifer, and this one is magnificent. The complexities of the TEN butterflies themselves, set against a full canvas of flowers is extraordinary. There is a sculpted butterfly lid on top, adding extra height and complimenting the incising on the jar.

#SC9119 - 4” high by 2 ½” wide
Price: $1400 SOLD

          With two such talented potters working on one piece together, you’d expect something truly great. And here we have it! Russell and Nancy have created a plate of exceptional beauty. It is quite magnificent. Passing the piece back and forth to each other over many months, the end result is phenomenal. The black mica rim allows the sixteen shells in tones of tan and deep red to really pop. Those colors are repeated on the tan bands that encompass the three strands of imbedded Heishi. The center of the plate is polished to a deep red coloration, mimicking the color of the shells. A San Ildefonso bird is depicted in the very center. A high grade piece of Kingman turquoise is set into the belly of the bird. This is a major creation by these two collaborative artists.

#SAN9112- 11 1/2" wide
Price: $22000