Russell Sanchez
San Ildefonso
Miniature
Red Avanyu
2" H
x 1 3/4" D
Russell Sanchez was born in
July of 1966 into the San Ildefonso Pueblo. Pueblo children are
seldom taught to make pottery, they learn by watching and experimenting
with clay on their own.
However, Russell was inspired
and encouraged to learn the art of pottery making from his aunt,
Rose Gonzales, as a young child at the age of twelve. He was
also inspired by another famous potter by the name of Dora Tse-Pe’,
who encouraged Russell to continue the long lived tradition of
constructing vessels from nature’s gifts.
He observed her with a careful
eye and eventually developed his own techniques and styles. He
eventually adopted techniques with the use of inlaid turquoise
and heishi beads. He also was influenced by Jody Folwell, who
introduced him into using different colors of clays and slips
on the same vessels.
Russell specializes in a wide
variety of contemporary pottery such as: redware, blackware,
micaceous, green clay jars, and figurines. He is a definite outdoorsman
and gets most of his inspiration from mother nature.
Russell loves to ski, hike
and raft. It is often during his rafting and hiking expeditions
that he will stop to gather clay to use later for his pottery.
Russell makes all of his bowls in the traditional manner of gathering
the clay, building the bowls in a coil method and then firing
them outside.
Each piece by Russell has
a distinctive flare to it. Either by the color, shape or design,
each piece varies in its unique nature. Unusual slips are one
of his key features. The use of lids in the shapes of bear and
shells are part of his view of nature and are used to complement
the various forms.
Russell's work has been featured
in many books and magazines. As well, his work may be found in
the permanent collection of museums such as the Heard Museum,
the Millicent Rogers Museum and the Smithsonian. Russell has
also won major awards at Santa Fe Indian Market, Eight Northern
Pueblo and other major competitive events. At Santa Fe Indian
Market, Russell has won awards almost every year!
His most recent accomplishments
include Best of Division and Best of Class at the Heard Museum
show and Santa Fe Indian Market respectively.
