Stetson Setalla
Rain Storm
12 1/2"
D x 3 1/4" H
Stetson Setalla comes from
a long line of Hopi potters. His family includes Agnes Navasie
(grandmother), Eunice Navasie (aunt), Agnes Nahsonhoya, and Dee
Setalla (siblings).
He has been an active potter
since 1980 and has been featured in many major works on Hopi
pottery. Stetson consistently shows at major competitions and
venues throughout the Southwest. His work is also featured at
the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona; and the Museum of Indian
Arts & Cultures in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
This gorgeous work of art
represents the sacred need for rain among the Hopi. The diamond
pattern represents the cardinal number four - the four corners
of the earth. Next to each diamond is a rain cloud motif, and
seperating all of these designs is a corn stalk design beneath
a cloud arch.
Even the corn stalk features
stylized "leaves" in the pattern of a water wave. And
finally, water waves surround the pottery sixteen times, of course
perfectly divisible by four times four.
This is an elaborately large
piece of work for Stetson - which is always a risk since not
every piece survives the firing process.
One of Stetson's unique trademarks
are the designs which continue on the underside of his pottery.
As always, he has signed with his trademark bear-claw/raincloud
symbol representing both his mother and father's clans.
