Madeline Naranjo
Santa Clara
Pray for Rain
9 1/4"
H x 7" D
Check out this stunning red-ware
vase by rising Santa Clara pottery artist, Madeline Naranjo!
We have not seen anything of this size by her before, and while
the pieces she recently entered and exhibited at Santa Fe Indian
Market would give this piece a run for its money, they still
fall short in terms of overall execution and balance.
The high polish surface is
contrasted by a natural matte finish featuring a traditional
water serpent encircling a rain cloud motif, with a lightning
bolt emerging from its mouth. This symbolic imagery could be
interpreted as a blessing being answered upon the many prayers
for rain sent up by Pueblo people in supplication for the crops
upon which they depend for survival, as well as the life giving
source water is for all creation.
This bold design repeats on
all for panels of the pottery, suggesting this good medicine
or energy be sent in all four directions - a true gift to mankind.
Madeline E. Naranjo was born
in 1971 as a member of the Santa Clara-Tewa Pueblo. She was taught
the fundamentals of hand coiling traditional pottery using the
methods of their ancient ancestors.
She was 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 artisan.
Madeline has been making pottery
since 1989. She specializes in hand coiling traditional Santa
Clara but adding her unique contemporary flare.
She gathers the clay from
within the grounds of the Santa Clara Pueblo. Then 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.
She is related to the following
artists: Effie Garcia (mother) and Madeline Naranjo (grandmother).
She signs her pottery as: Madeline E. Naranjo, SCP.
Awards:
-1992 Santa Fe Indian Market
1st place
-1994, 95, 96, 97 Santa Fe Indian Market various ribbons
Publications:
-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi
to Zuni
-Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies
