Julie Gutierrez
Santa Clara
Bears &
Blossoms
6" H
x 5" D
Julie Gutierrez was born in
1965 into the Santa Clara Pueblo. She began experimenting with
pottery at the age of 12. She was inspired by her mother, Victoria
Gutierrez who is known for her handmade bowls. She was also inspired
by Effie Garcia and Sally M. Gutierrez (sisters). They taught
her all the fundamentals of working with natural clays and pigments
so that she could continue the long lived tradition of working
with clay.
Julie specializes in the contemporary
and traditional, handmade Santa Clara pottery that is etched
and crafted with authentic turquoise stones. Julie gathers all
of her materials from within the Santa Clara Pueblo.
She breaks down the clumps
of clay to a fine powder form and mixes the clay with volcanic
ash and water. She begins by forming snake like coils and begins
building her pieces.
Once the pottery has taken
a vessel shape she sands her pieces for a fine smooth texture.
Then, Julie hand etches her flowers and fires her pottery the
traditional way, outdoors.
Julie’s trademark is
the turquoise stones that she adds to the center of each rosette.
She hand coils small animals, mushrooms, and and several different
shapes of vases and bowls. She signs her pottery as: J.A. Gutierrez,
SCP.
Julie is also related to Tony
and Terry Gutierrez (uncle & aunt). She is featured in Pueblo
Indian Pueblo Pottery - 750 Artist Biographies by Gregory
Schaff.
