Kaa Folwell (Santa Clara Pueblo), Lightining, water jar, native clay. Courtesy King Galleries.
While putting together our pottery section this year, we heard numerous stories about the gathering of clay and materials by some of the top potters working today. It is remarkable how few ingredients are needed for pottery. There is earth and water, and then later there are other materials, from wood for the firing and paint for the outside of the pot. But really, pottery is just earth and water. That’s it. Mixed together, they become a dense clay, a medium waiting for a set of careful hands. As is often the case, the clay comes from the pueblos themselves, or from sites near where the potters live. So, when an artist creates a pot and then fires it, they are putting their a piece of their home right into the work. That’s a special part of pottery, one we hope will linger with you as you celebrate Native American pottery with us in this special issue.Powered by Froala Editor
