Creations From Earth

Pottery making has been a way of life for Native Americans for centuries. Ancient pottery shards have been discovered at archaeological digs for hundreds of years. It was not until recently, in the early 20th century, that this pottery was recognized as works of art. Previously, pottery was largely utilitarian, providing storage and transportation for various items such as water, corn and beans. When tinware and enamelware became more readily available, the need for handmade pottery diminished greatly. There were a few Native potters that helped to bring back the tradition, such as Maria Martinez, Nampeyo, Lucy Lewis and Sara Fina Tafoya.

The process by which these artists construct their wares consists of six distinct processes. According to Susan Peterson in The Living Tradition of Maria Martinez, these steps include "finding and collecting the clay, forming a pot, scraping and sanding the pot to remove surface irregularities, applying the iron-bearing slip and burnishing it to a high sheen with a smooth stone, decorating the pot with another slip, and firing the pot."

The clay is usually gathered only once a year in October. Conditions are favorable around this time, with the climate being dry. The clay is then stored in a place where temperatures remain constant. When the artist is ready to make a pot, she mixes it with sand until the correct consistency is achieved. She will then form the base of the pot on the puki (supporting mold for base) and form coils of clay to the base, pinching and squeezing the coils together. This will prevent air pockets from forming, which could cause the pot to break when firing. The walls are scraped with a utensil to smooth out any irregularities and to make them all the same thickness. This will prevent weaknesses.

After forming the pot, the artist allows it to dry. She will then scrape, sand and polish the pot to achieve the desired sheen and quality. This portion is the most time consuming of the whole process, as the shine on a pot is one of the traits that collectors look for in a piece of high quality pottery. The pot is burnished then decorated with specific designs and symbols that the artist holds dear to them. The final step is to fire the pot. This is done in an open pit outside. Unfired pottery is placed in the pit and covered with various materials, such as cow or sheep dung, newspaper, wood and steel. Different artists utilize varying techniques and materials to produce pottery that suits their style. The pieces are then fired, with temperatures reaching around 1400 degrees farenheit. When firing is completed, you have a beautiful hand coiled pot!

Although small variations have been tried over the years, the basic steps in Native American pottery making have remained fairly constant over the course of history. It is a tried and true process, one that we at Indian River Gallery would like to see continued by generations to come. The way to ensure our descendants have the privilege of experiencing these beautiful works of art is to support Native art by purchasing it! Here is a link to the pottery we carry here at the gallery! You can order online or call us if you have any questions!