Dusty Naranjo was born in
1968 into the Santa Clara Pueblo. She is the daughter of Bernice
Naranjo. Dusty learned how to hand coil traditional pottery when
she was approximately twenty years old.
Dusty was inspired to learn
the art of pottery making by observing her Mother, and her Brother,
Forest Naranjo, both well know pottery artists from the Santa
Clara Pueblo.
Dusty chose to continue hand
coiling the sienna firing style, which is a color in-between
that of the traditional Santa Clara black and red. The sienna
style, or technique is the style the Naranjo Family
is well known for making.
This is a contemporary style
started in the late 1960s and early 1970s, however,
this style is now considered a staple style from the Santa Clara
Pueblo. She gathers her natural pigments from within the hills
of the Santa Clara Pueblo and uses traditional methods while
making her fine masterpieces.
Like her brother, Forrest
Naranjo, Dusty was not raised in a strictly pueblo environment.
Her father, Tito Naranjo, was a university professor and this
less traditional upbringing probably accounts for the contemporary
styles of Dusty's pottery.
In fact, Dusty did not even
pursue pottery until a little later in life. She first graduated
with a BA in psychology from NM Highlands University and recently
obtained her Master's Degree in Art Therapy.
However, having been exposed
to pottery making throughout her life -- both her parents pot
and her father's siblings are Jody Folwell, Nora Naranjo- Morse
and Dolly Naranjo -- it was perhaps inevitable that Dusty give
it a try.
When she did begin potting
she discovered that is was a wonderful creative process. Using
only traditional techniques, Dusty is now a well known potter
having progressed far in a short period of time.