Institute of American Indian Arts Names New Museum Director

The Institute of American Indian Arts is pleased to announce the appointment of Patsy Phillips as Director of the Institute of American Indian Arts Museum. She will begin her position on August 11, 2008. “She brings a wealth of both professional experience and personal attributes to fill the critical vacancy of IAIA Museum Director,” Jim Santini, member of the IAIA Board of Trustees and Chair of the Museum Committee notes. “She will be a long-term asset to both the Institute and Museum.”

Dr. Robert G. Martin (Cherokee), President of the Institute of American Indian Arts, said he is “…extremely pleased that we have selected someone with Patsy Phillips’ credentials, vision, experience and skills to lead the IAIA Museum. She values collaboration and will bring energy and enthusiasm in building on our museum’s strong foundation as a center for important exhibitions and programs relative to contemporary Native American art.” Phillips was selected after an extensive national search, and joins IAIA after working at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) in Washington, D.C for more than eight years. While there, she developed and managed several programs. As Director for NMAI’s participation in the world-famous Venice Biennale, she organized the sponsorship and promotion of artists such as Edgar Heap of Birds and James Luna. After noticing NMAI’s need for a unit dedicated to contemporary Native arts, Phillips oversaw the planning and development of a strategic plan for contemporary arts which was launched this May. Before working for the National Museum of the American Indian, she was both Interim Executive Director and Program Development Director at Atlatl, Inc, a national service organization for Native American arts in Phoenix, AZ.

A member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, Phillips says, “I am thrilled to begin my new post as the Director for the IAIA Museum. I look forward to working with the smart and dedicated IAIA staff and students who are committed to the advancement of contemporary Native arts. I plan to find ways to work collaboratively with other organizations across the country so that together we can change the way contemporary Native art is understood and represented.” She holds a Master of Arts degree in non-fiction writing from Johns Hopkins University, and a Graduate Certificate in Museum Administration from Harvard University.

SWAIA SANTA FE INDIAN MARKET STILL NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

.... BEFORE AND DURING INDIAN MARKET
Become an integral part of making Indian Market Happen

The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) is calling for volunteers to help produce Santa Fe Indian Market. In 2008, Indian Market takes place August 23 & 24, 2008. Hundreds of positions are available to interested volunteers. Volunteers are needed in SWAIA's Santa Fe office beginning in May, with more positions available beginning in June and increasing to hundreds for the weeks before Market in August. SWAIA volunteers have a wide range of skills and interests. Possibilities for volunteers include helping staff to answer calls and prepare materials in our office, providing information to visitors or selling beverages during Market, and even being a part of SWAIA's grand Preview of Award-Winning Art. SWAIA also encourages teams of volunteers-like family members, workplace associates or old friends-to work together with SWAIA in accomplishing some of the huge tasks we have, like setting up the hundreds of artist booths in the hours before market. "I look forward to meeting and working with the dedicated individuals who return year after year to volunteer at the Santa Fe Indian Market," said Elizabeth Harris, SWAIA Development Associate. "And I also look forward to welcoming new people. The time and energy that volunteers bring to SWAIA is really important to us, and much of the success of Indian Market rests on their shoulders." Those wishing to volunteer are encouraged to download a volunteer sign-up form from SWAIA's website at www.swaia.org. Volunteers can also contact Elizabeth Harris by email at eharris@swaia.org or by phone at 505-983-5220 extension 238. For more information about SWAIA or the Santa Fe Indian Market, please visit SWAIA's website at www.swaia.org or call 505-983-5220

New Zuni Fetish Home Page at ZuniLink

We have redesigned the home page at http://www.ZuniLink.com to improve loading time and make navigation easier.

We'd appreciate feedback.

Did make it better? Or is it same old, same old?

You can comment to this blog or email us at sanibelart@comcast.net .

Native American earrings on sale - 30% off

Now through July 28, 2008, you can save 30% off the listed price of any and every earrings pair in our Native-JewelryLink inventory.

Every pair - posts, clips, wires - is included. Silver, gold, inlay, channelwork, turquoise, lapis, coral, shell. If you find it and you love it, you'll get 30% off.

Start by visiting this page and clicking on one of the Native American Indian earring index page links.

Find the earrings you want. Place your order through our secure order form or by calling us at 800-305-0185 (8 AM to 8 PM Eastern Time). Tell us you want the sale discount and we will deduct 30% from your earring order.

You can pay by Paypal or any major credit card. Or use our Collector's Club layaway.

It's that simple.

Don't wait to the last minute. At this discount, great buys will go fast.

IACA names Top Native American artists -2008

The Indian Arts and Crafts Association (IACA) has named the top artists at its April Market.

Artist of the Year went to Mary Lou Big Day from the Crow nation of Montana. Her award-winning work was a beaded and painted doll entitled "Crow Traveling Medicine."

Second Place was awarded to Venus "Brightstar", a Creek artist, for her porcupine quilled leather jacket entitled "The Vine of Life."

Other awards included:

Jewelry-Lapidary: First and Second Places to Charlene Sanchez Reano, San Felipe. (Charlene's work is represented at Native-JewelryLink .

Jewelry-Metalsmithing: First Place to Earl Plummer (Navajo). Second Place to George "Shukata" Willis (Choctaw). Third Place went to L. Bruce Hodgins (Navajo). Earl's work, done in conjunction with Calvin Begay at the time, also can be seen at Native-JewelryLink .

Sculpture-Small Scale: First Place to Caroline Carpio (Isleta). Second Place to George "Shukata" Willis (Choctaw)

Judge's Choice: First Place to Frank Fowler, Jr. (Navajo). Second Place to Caroline Carpio (Isleta). Third Place to Don Standing Bear (Metis). Caroline's work in pottery is represented at Native-PotteryLink.

IACA, of which Aboriginals: Art of the First Person is a long-standing member, works to promote Native American Indian art and to protect its authenticity by requiring all members to offer only Native American-made work, unless it is otherwise clearly identified as being not made by American Indians.

Ira lujan , Taos glass artist

We have been intrigued by the growth of glass artistry among Native American artisans.

Ira Lujan, a Taos Pueblo member, is one of the foremost practitioners. We have acquired a video of Ira at work. We were so struck by it that we asked for permission to put it on the blog.

Enjoy.



Incidentally, you will find two examples of Ira's work for sale at Native-PotteryLink. Click on the the Taos link.

Thanks for visiting, Susanne and Willliam Waites

Today's the day for Red Earth

If you are in or near Oklahoma City this weekend, set aside some time to visit the Red Earth Celebration. It starts with big parade today and continues as an arts and crafts show over the weekend. More than 1,000 Native American artists will be represented.

We have always enjoyed Red Earth as a source of fine Native American art, some of which has been featured from itme ot time on our websites, ZuniLink for high quality Native American fetish and other carvings, Native-JewelryLink for authentic Native American jewelry and Native-PotteryLink for fine pueblo pottery.

We recommend it as an excellent way to indulge and engage in a beautiful Native American tradition.

Did you know Dru?

Dru Anne Doyle, formerly Director of Merchandising and Product Development at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in Indianapolis and now Manager of Sales and Marketing at Ocean's Reach Condominium Association on Sanibel Island Florida, has been elected as a member of the Board of Directors of the Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce.

Dru left her museum post in Indianapolis to settle on Sanibel in 2007. We remember her well from the various shows and events where we would see her when she was a buyer for the Eiteljorg and we were buying for our websites at ZuniLink, Native-JewelryLink and Native-PotteryLink .

Since I also am a member of the Sanibel-Captiva Chamber board, I look forward to seeing her very smiling face and positive view of life at future meetings. (But, of course, we miss her in the Native and Tribal Arts field.)

Sad News - Pernell Laate, Zuni Carver

We were saddened to learn of the recent passing of Pernell Laate, a well-known and highly respected Zuni carver. Pernell was the brother of Maxx Laate, another carver of remarkable talent, whose work has been shown on our website at ZuniLink.

We extend our condolences to the Laate family and all those at Zuni Pueblo who knew, loved and worked with Pernell Laate.

Sad News - Navajo Code Talker Passes

We received news that Navajo Code Talker Jerry C. Begay Sr. died Memorial Day, May 26, 2008. Begay was 83.

As a Code Talker, Begay was among the approximately 400 men who served with the US Marine Corps in the Pacific during World War II. Begay served in the 2nd Marine Division, 297th Platoon.

He received both a Purple Heart and a Congressional Silver Medal of Honor.

Navajo Code Talkers on Parade as
carved by Navajo Folk Artist, Renzo Reed

Code Talkers were employed by the US combat forces to communicate with one another via the radio in the heat of battle. By speaking their native Navajo language, they befuddled the Japanese who were listening into radio transmissions with the intention of breaking the American's code.

Post war comments from captured Japanese radiooperators indicated that the ploy was successful.

We salute the service of Jerry C. Begay Sr and all other patriotic American Navajo Code Talkers who were instrumental in our winning in the Pacific Theater.

Thank you, Jerry. Thank you all.

Stolen Art Alert

The University of British Columbia's Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver has reported the theft of 12 works of art by Native artist Bill Reid, including a gold box with Haida designs, surmounted by a sculptured eagle.

Reid died in 1998 after years of renown as a Haida artist. He was considered one of Canada's most significant artists, with four of his works appearing on the Canadian $20 bill.

(An earlier issue tribalartery featured works by Reid that were on exhibit in Santa Fe at the time of the Indian Market.)

If you hear or see anything about these stolen works, please contact the University of British Columbia or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

These are not just national treasures. They are world treasures. They must be found and returned before their gold content encourages the thieves to melt them down.

Thank you. William Ernest Waites.

More Native American & Ethnographic Art Shows

For your advance planning, here's a list of shows to put on your calendar:

5^th Annual Eastern Navajo Arts & Crafts Festival

June 28, 2008

Torreon/Star Lake Chapter House

Torreon NM

Santa Fe International Folk Art Market

July 12 – 13, 2008

Museum Hill, Santa Fe

http://www.folkartmarket.org

87^th Annual Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial

August 6 – 10, 2008

Red Rock State Park, Gallup NM

http://www.gallupintertribal.com

Great Southwestern Antique Show

Sneak Preview – Friday, August 8, 2008

Saturday, August 9, 2008 – 9-5PM

Sunday, August 10, 2008 – 10-4PM

Albuquerque Fairgrounds

WhiteHawk Ethnographic Art Show

Preview Opening - Friday, August 15, 2008 – 6-9PM

$75 for beverages, food and three days admission.

Saturday, August 16, 2008 – 10-5PM

$10 - General Admission

Sunday, August 17, 2008 – 10-5PM

$10 General Admission

WhiteHawk Antique Indian Art Show

Preview Opening - Monday, August 18, 2008 – 6-9PM

$75 for beverages, food and three days admission

Tuesday, August 19, 2008 – 10-5PM

$10 - General Admission

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 – 10-5PM

$10 – General Admission

El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe.

Historic Railyard District

http://www.whitehawkshows.com

Allard Auctions

Phoenix AZ November 7-9, 2008

Phoenix AZ March 13-15, 2009

Santa Fe, NM August 15-16, 2009

Phoenix AZ November 13-15, 2009

http//www.allardauctions.com

25^th Annual Marin Show Art of the Americas

February 21 & 22, 2009

Marin Center, San Rafael CA

http://www.marinshow.com

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This schedule information is brought to you as a public service by William Ernest and Susanne Waites, proprietors of web sites offering Native American art at ZuniLink, Native-PotteryLink, Native-JewelryLink and TribalWorks, in the belief that the more people come to know about and appreciate Native American and all tribal art, the better it will be for all concerned.

Thank you.

SWAIA announces Buffalo Thunder Resort's sponsorship

Native enterprises working together to promote Native arts and culture

(SANTA FE, NM) The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) is proud to announce the alliance of two great entities, the Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino and SWAIA, in a unique title sponsorship for the Santa Fe Indian Market. . This three-year sponsorship is symbolic of the Pueblo of Pojoaque's commitment to Native American artistic expression and tradition. Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino is Santa Fe's largest destination resort, brought to fruition by visionary Pojoaque Governor George Rivera, and will feature a Hilton resort and spa, restaurants, convention center, golf courses and casino.


Governor Rivera stated, "Buffalo Thunder Resort's sponsorship of the Santa Fe Indian Market represents a significant commitment on the part of the Pueblo of Pojoaque to Native arts and to the communities and pueblos of New Mexico. The new resort is a stunning realization of pueblo arts and culture combined with Hilton hospitality and we are proud to align it as the title sponsor of Santa Fe's most cherished event."


Governor Rivera, a long time supporter of the arts, has commissioned several Native artists to produce work for the resort and that list includes Mateo Romero, Roxanne Swentzel, George Toya, Kathleen Wall and Lonnie Vigil to name a few. These distinguished Native artists and many others are showcased throughout the facilities to provide visitors with an opportunity to see the excellence and diversity of contemporary Native creative expression in several mediums. SWAIA is interested in the prospect of creating more exposure for Native artists through this partnership and the possibility of future collaborations with Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino.


Comanche artist and SWAIA Board member Nocona Burgess said, "This is a collective use of resources that benefits Native families and communities. We should form practical coalitions. This is certainly one of them." This partnership strengthens local relationships, brings communities together, and provides economic stimulus back to Native enterprises. Burgess remarked, "I think this is a good thing for SWAIA, Native artists and our community. We have to help ourselves and lend support where we can. I see Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino doing that." Burgess noted that many Native artists who exhibit in the Santa Fe Indian Market have contributed to the art and aesthetics of the new resort. Burgess also stated, "There will be many different people who will go to the resort for events, conferences, vacation, etc. These people will be exposed to Native arts and culture through the art and artists represented."


Sponsorships are an essential part of the revenues raised each year to stage the renowned Santa Fe Indian Market. SWAIA, a non-profit organization, takes absolutely no percentage of sales from Indian Market artists. The Santa Fe Indian Market costs, like everything else in our lives, continue to escalate -from the rentals of 650 tents for the artists to the various other costs of converting the Plaza and downtown Santa Fe to a premier showcase for Native arts. Buffalo Thunder's sponsorship will provide much needed support and will help pay for the planning and presentation of Indian Market. This auspicious sponsorship also represents a type of a mutually beneficial partnership that recognizes the centrality of the Santa Fe Indian Market to the Native fine arts movement.
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This information is provided as a public service by William Ernest and Susanne Waites, proprietors of Aboriginals: Art of the First person, a business member of SWAIA, and its Native American Indian arts and tribal art web sites at ZuniLink, Native-JewelryLink, Native-PotteryLink and TribalWorks

Native Treasures Indian Arts Festival - THIS WEEKEND

Just the other day we blogged about the Zuni Arts & Culture Festival at the Museum of Northern Arizona this weekend.

Now we want anyone who is closer to Santa Fe than to Flagstaff to know about the Native Treasures Indian Arts Festival at the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture on Museum Hill.

This show is a treasure in itself, displaying work by some of Native America's most popular and respected Indian artisans. The list of those scheduled to appear boggles the expectations.

A short list of those we know and represent includes:

Caroline Carpio, Isleta potter and bronzecaster
Randall Chitto, Choctaw potter and bronzecaster
Preston & Deborah Duwyenie, Hopi and Santa Clara potters
Michael Kanteena, Laguna potter
Pam Lujan-Hauer, Taos potter
Samuel Manymules, Navajo Dine potter)
Pahponee, Kickapoo/Potawatami potter
Wayne Snowbird, Santa Clara potter
Tommy Jackson, Navajo Dine jewelrymaker
Marvin Slim, Navajo Dine jewelrymaker
Jayne Quam, Navajo Dine carver
Kateri Sanchez Quandelacy, Zuni carver
Talia Quandelacy, Laguna/Zuni carver
Ira Lujan, Taos glassblower

There are many others. Links indicated with the individual names will take you to examples of the artists' works on our web sites.

This show will benefit Santa Fe's Museum of Indian Arts & Culture. Hours are Friday night at 6 pm with a special pre-sale gala. Saturday from 9 am for those with Early Bird tickets, from 10 am to 4 pm for general admission. Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm with free admission.

For more information, visit the Native Treasures web site by clicking here.

Zuni Festival at Museum of Northern Arizona

This is the weekend for the Annual Zuni Festival of Arts and Culture at the Museum of Northern Arizona in flagstaff.

In its 18^th year, the festival will be held on Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25 as a collaboration of the MNA and the A’shiwi A’wan Museum and Heritage Center at Zuni.

The Zuni Pueblo is one of New Mexico’s largest, covering more than 600 acres. More than 11,000 Zunis exist in and around the Pueblo, with about 80% of the families involved in some artistic endeavor. These include the creation of everything from pottery to carvings to jewelry and two-dimensional graphic art. Some families also create beautiful beaded figures, such as the one by Jeannette Dewesee, shown to the right.

The following artists and craftspeople are schedule to exhibit and/or demonstrate at the festival.

Colin Coonsis―inlay jewelry
Kenneth Epaloose―pottery
Rolanda Haloo―jewelry,
Silvester Hustitio―painting
Otto Lucio―jewelry
Claudia Peina―fetish carving,
Lynn Quam―fetish carving
Octavius and Irma Seowtewa―needlepoint jewelry
Margia Simplicio―beadwork
Noreen Simplicio―pottery
Raylan and Patty Edaakie - silver and inlay jewelry
Lorandina Sheche - fetish carvings
Todd Westika - fetish carvings

According to A:shiwi A:wan Director, Jim Enote, the Zuni Festival of Arts and Culture is “…more than an event about Zuni, it is a very public gesture, acknowledging Zuni presence and influence on the Colorado Plateau.”

Robert Breunig, director of the Museum of Northern Arizona agrees, “The Zuni culture is an integral part of the Colorado Plateau, with close cultural connections to the land and ancestral villages in southeastern Arizona and western New Mexico. The spiritual and ancestral landscape of the Zuni or A:shiwi includes the San Francisco Peaks or Sunha:kwin K'yaba:chu Yalanne in the west, Steamboat Wash in the north, Mount Taylor in the east, the Salt and Gila River Basins to the south, and of course, the Grand Canyon, the Zuni place of origin. By creating a collaborative relationship with the Zuni Tribe, MNA is able to ensure that the dialogue and cultural exchange about the Zuni people and their lifeways comes directly from the source.”

More information about the event is available at the Gallup Independent newspaper website and the website of the Museum of Northern Arizona.

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This message is brought to you as a public service in support of all tribal arts by William and Susanne Waites, proprietors of online galleries featuring Zuni carving, Zuni jewelry and Zuni pottery.

A Review of Jonathan Batkin's new book

Jonathan Batkin is the Director of the Wheelwright Museum of Indian Art in Santa Fe, NM. He has written a book that explores the role of traders and curio dealers in the growth and development of Native American silversmithing. The book, published by the Wheelwright, is titled The Native American Curio Trade in New Mexico.

An enlightening review of the book has been published by the Santa Fe New Mexican's Pasatiempo Section. It may be accessed at this link: http://www.SantaFeNewMexican.com/Pasatiempo/Curios-didn-t-kill-this-cat

Those interested in, or collectors of, Native American silver jewelry will find the review interesting.

You may also find a visit to Native-JewelryLink worthwhile. This site has a wide selection of Native American contemporary silver jewelry for sale.

Kachinas: Their history and appeal

We don't carry kachinas (or katsinas) for the most part.


We have one or two that we acquired for our own pleasure - and one was recently added to the TribalWorks web site / Native American art gallery.



But we ran across this interesting article about them.



http://www.antiquetrader.com/article/
Antique_Detective_Collectible_Kachina_
dolls_have_a_history/


If you are a collector or thinking of collecting or know someone who collects kachinas, you may find this article interesting too. You may even want to let others know about it.



As always, our interest in tribal art extends beyond the pieces we carry as dealers and as gallery owners.

It's not too late ...

.... to catch the New York International Tribal & Textile Arts Show.

Today is the first day of the 14^th annual New York International Tribal & Textile Arts Show at the 69^th Regiment Armory, Lexington at 26^th Street, New York City.

The show continues through Sunday with the following hours:

Friday, May 16, 2008 from 11 am to 8 pm

Saturday, May 17, 2008 from11 am to 7 pm

Sunday, May 18,2008 from 11 am to 5 pm

Seventy-seven galleries will exhibit textiles, sculpture, statuary, jewelry and tribal objects.

If you can find time this weekend, make it a point to visit the show. Genereal admission is $15.

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This notice is presented as a public service by Aboriginals: Art of the First Person, the tribal art gallery doing business at online galleries - TribalWorks.Com , Native-PotteryLink.com , Native-JewelryLink.com and ZuniLink.com .

Acoma Pueblo: Above it all.

The Pueblo of Acoma has a long and illustrious history in New Mexico. It is said to the longest continuously inhabit village in North America, with its founding dating back 1200 years. Part of its survival and prosperity can be traced to its physical location on a mesa high above the New Mexico desert. For decades it was resistant to inroads by Spanish colonials. Eventually, however, the Spanish infiltrated the village, converted the inhabitants to Catholicism and, in 1641, built the San Estaban Mission Church.

(Right above: an Ansel Adams photograph of the
San Estaban Mission Church)

Some of this history has been chronicled in an article in the current, May 2008 issue of Smithsonian Magazine.

Another cornerstone of its success has been the incredible talent of the Pueblo’s pottery makers.

(Left: an Edward Curtis photo of Acoma women carrying pots )

Among the most prominent contemporary pottery artists at Acoma Pueblo are Sharon Lewis, Diane Lewis, Carolyn Lewis Concho, Rebecca Lucario, Judy Lewis and Marilyn Henderson. These “sisters in the clay” are not related to the legendary Lucy Lewis. But they have created their own reputation based on their own beautiful work.

They often create small pots known as seedpots. They are recognizable by the small hole that traditionally was used to insert seeds and shake them out at planting time. The small hole was a feature designed keep out hungry rodents and insects.

The earliest versions of the seed pot were plain and utilitarian.

Over time, the designs became more detailed. Exterior painting began to become polychromatic, with details of various creatures that are important to life among the Acoma people. Three dimensional elements are added to bring even more appeal to these charming pots. With new aesthetic features, these decorative pots have seen their seed holes become smaller, just large enough to allow the inside of the pot to breathe during firing.

These sweet, whimsical creations, often carry price tags that cause new collectors to hesitate. How can such a small pot cost so much?

Let’s start with the raw material. It is dug from special clay deposits miles from the pueblo village. They are only accessible by foot, requiring long and tiring journeys before any refinement of the clay begins.

The clay comes from remote locations that are miles from the Acoma Pueblo village. Potters can only get to them by walking long distances over difficult terrain. When harvested, the clay is in chunks that are hard as slate. The chunks must be broken up by hand. Sometimes the clay is dry. Other times it is damp and requires drying for several days before it is sifted and winnowed to filter out unwanted elements. The clay is then crushed and ground fine with a smooth stone. Then temper, in the form of finely ground potsherds from old broken pots, is added to the clay. The temper binds the clay to give it the strength and pliability required for trouble-free firing. This results in pottery walls that are very thin, yet quite strong.

The next step is the process by which the dry clay becomes workable so that it can form a pot. The dry, tempered clay and water are mixed slowly with more temper added until the potter’s experience tells her it has the right texture and consistency to be made into a pot.

A pot begins by placing the clay in a half-gourd, a shallow basket or another bowl to support the base as coils of clay are added around the upper edges. This work requires delays to let each coil “set” enough to support the next coil. Eventually the shape is defined and the scraping of the surface begins. A gourd is used to scrape the walls smooth. This scraping takes place in stages, allowing for drying to take place, until it is as thin as the potter wants. Finally, it is burnished with a smooth “sanding” stone.

Even with the brilliant white clay that Acoma potters start with, a slip of fine white kaolin clay is applied over the pot’s surface. This achieves a bright white finish. It creates an ideal surface for the fine designs the potter will apply. After several coats of slip have been applied and allowed to dry between applications, the surface is again polished with smooth stone.

The paints that Acoma artists use are, in fact, new clays combined with vegetable binders and mineral pigments. These plants and pigments are an integral part of the vibrancy and beauty of Acoma pottery. Experienced potters determine when the combined pigment, binder and water are of the proper consistency. If it is too thin, the paint may flake when the pot is fired. If it is too thin, it may fade.

Traditional painting is done with a sliver of yucca that has been chewed to a single strand. The finely detailed painting is even more impressive when considered in this context.

The final step is the firing. In the early days, the pots were fired in open outdoor fires. Changes in weather and temperature would cause frequent breakage, after hours of work had been invested in the unfired pot. The more delicate the form, the more vulnerable the pot.

As a result, sometime in the 1970s, Acoma pottery became to be fired in electric kilns. The more consistent, higher temperatures provided by a kiln, allow thin-walled Acoma pottery to emerge in beauty and strength. This also has encouraged the kind of whimsical touches that now appear in the charming seed pots created by the Lewis “sisters”.

(At left: a typical Carolyn Concho seed pot.
Note the 3-dimensional lady bug being serenaded
by a painted kokopelli.)

Special Note: There seem to be some Acoma people who have succumbed to the temptation of using pre-formed, molded pottery, or “greenware” as a cost saving measure. We do NOT knowingly carry greenware pottery in our online gallery at Native-PotteryLink.com. If you encounter Acoma pottery that is priced surprisingly low, ask the seller if it is greenware. You may be perfectly happy with buying it, but please be aware of what you are buying.

Newly Posted Acoma Seedpots by Carolyn Concho and Rebecca Lucario

We have just posted to our website at Native-PotteryLink.com some delightful seed pots by Carolyn Concho and Rebecca Lucario. Click on each image to go to a page with larger pictures and pricing details.

Carolyn Concho Seed Pot with concave area
sporting a three-dimensional lady bug

Carolyn Concho oval seed pot with painted quail,
heron, fish, lizard and three-dimensional turtle

Rebecca Lucario seed pot with a parrot
surrounded by a pattern symbolizing rain.

Plan to return to the Tribal Artery blog shortly. We have an interesting article in development about Acoma pottery and the Lewis sisters who made the seedpot examples featured her. Thank you.

PS: We have been running a sale of Pueblo Pottery with discounts of 20% to 40%. The sale is scheduled to close on May 30. We recommend you check it and act before discounts end.