SANTA CLARA BLACK POTTERY

Norman Red Star, “Wi-Cahpe-Luza”, Swift Star, is a full blooded Native American Indian born into the Sioux Nation in 1955. He was inspired to continue the long lived tradition of crafting art by his Uncle, the famous, RedStarr. Norman began working with art at the age of 16. He started out with crafting bead work, and at the age of 24 he began hand carving sculptures on stone. At the age of 26 he began painting, and at the age of 40 he began crafting pottery.

Norman now specializes in hand crafting the traditional Santa Clara pottery with sgraffito etchings. He gets his ideas from hunting and mother nature herself. He etches animal legends on his pottery. He also accents his pottery with turquoise stones. Norman was quoted as saying: “The finished pottery is always a welcomed sight to see.” Norman signs his pottery as: Wi-Cahpe-Luza, Red Star, followed by a shield symbol, and finally with his census number.

SANTA CLARA BLACK POTTERY

In 1981 Victor moved to Santa Clara Pueblo where he observed his aunts (Mary Cain and Mida Tafoya) making pottery. Nonetheless, he considers himself largely self-taught. Naomi was born in Los Angeles (1961) to a non-Indian father and a Santa Clara mother (Patricia Fuentes). She moved to Santa Clara in 1984, met Victor, and they started potting together. She was taught by her brother Lorenzo Fuentes. Victor and Naomi form their pots independently as each has special shapes. Naomi designs the pots but Victor carves them. Then Naomi does the polishing and Victor the firing. Truly a collaborative effort. : They won two First Places at the most recent Picuris show. More information is available in the Fourteen Families book page 236.

SANTA CLARA BLACK POTTERY

Marvin has been making pottery for over 30 years and was taught by his father Corn Moquino, a master artist. Marvin and Delores are members of the Corn/Coyote Clans. Marvin was born in 1966 and Delores in 1967. They have been making pottery together since 1985. Marvin gathers his clays from the mountains around the Santa Clara Pueblo and prepares them in his own special way. The pottery is fired in the family kiln using traditional family techniques. This piece is signed Marvin Moquino, Santa Clara.

3 3/4" Tall, 4 1/2" at widest point

SANTA CLARA BLACK POTTERY

Gary Gutierrez

SANTA CLARA BLACK POTTERY

by Sophie Cata

Sophie Cata, “Eagle Feather Basket”, was born in 1957 into the Santa Clara Pueblo. She was inspired to continue the family tradition of pottery making from Flora Naranjo (grandmother) and Frances Salazar (mother). She was taught all the fundamentals of pottery making at the age of 6. Sophie strongly believes in tradition.

Sophie specializes in handmade traditional Santa Clara pottery. The materials used to make her  pottery is all provided to her from Mother Earth. She gathers her clay and white sand within the Santa Clara Pueblo. The clay & white sand are sifted for impurities, then mixed in equal parts to form a mud type clay. The pottery is hand-coiled, and this accounts for imperfections. When the pot is dried, designs are drawn with a pencil and carved out with carving tools. She then sands her pottery with sandpaper to make it round and smooth. She applies a red slip on her pottery and polishes it with a polishing stone. Firing takes place outdoors in an open kiln, the way of her ancestors, and slabs of bark are added to the fire. It needs to reach a temperature of 800 degrees. When she makes black pottery, horse dung is added to the fire to achieve a black finish. Her common designs are: bear paws, feather designs, water serpents, kiva steps, and cloud designs. Sophie signs her pottery as: Sophie Cata, Santa Clara Pueblo.

Size: 3 3/4" Tall, 5 3/8" at widest point

by Birdell Bourdon

Birdell Bourdon, “Vine Flower”, was born in 1957 into the Santa Clara-Tewa Pueblo. Birdell was motivated and inspired to continue the long lived family tradition of hand coiling pottery using ancient methods from her Mother, the late Marie Sisneros. Marie was a Professor at the World College in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Marie taught Birdell all the fundamentals of pottery making the traditional way of her ancestors. Birdell has been making pottery since the of age 10. The lucrative aspect of the business encouraged Birdell to become an artist.

Birdell specializes in the hand coiled Santa Clara black polished pottery. She gathers clay from the Tribal clay pits within the Santa Clara Pueblo. Then, she cleans, mixes hand coils, shapes, and fires her pottery the traditional way, outdoors with saw dust. She coils many different sizes and shapes, like wedding vases and bowls. She also makes melon patterns on her pottery. Birdell is a fine potter whose art is crafted very well. She is presently mentoring her children with the traditional ways of making pottery so they too may have a prolific future artistically if they need to fall back on the business of making pottery. Birdell signs her pottery as: Birdell, Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico

SANTA CLARA BLACK POTTERY

by Madeline Naranjo

Madeline E. Naranjo is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born in 1971 into the Santa Clara-Tewa Pueblo. She was taught the fundamentals of hand coiling traditional pottery using the methods of her ancient ancestors. She was also influenced by many of her family members to continue a long lived family tradition. Julie Gutierrez also had a big impact on her decision to become an artist.

Madeline specializes in hand coiling traditional Santa Clara, while adding her unique contemporary flare. She gathers her clay from within the grounds of the Santa Clara Pueblo. She cleans, mixes, hand coils, shapes, etches, polishes and fires her pottery outdoors with horse manure. The designs she chooses to create are those of nature scenes, because of the respect and the love she has for the planet and all that it has to offer.

This piece is signed Madeline Naranjo, SCP.

 Size: 4 1/4" Tall, 5" at widest point

Hand Crafted Taos Indian Drum