Adrian Garcia
& Julie Gutierrez
Santa
Clara
Serpent Abstract
6 1/4"
H x 5" D
Adrian Garcia was born in
1973. He is the son of well known Santa Clara potters Effie and
Orville Garcia. Adrian is known for making sgraffito style pottery,
and was instructed by his aunt, another Santa Clara potter, named
Julie Gutierrez.
Julie was born in 1965 and
has been potting since 1977. She learned to work the clay from
her mother, Victoria Gutierrez, and also counts two sisters,
Effie Garcia and Sally M. Gutierrez, as inspiration. Julie often
makes animals and a mushroom shape of her own creation, in addition
to more traditional pottery shapes.
Julie is also related to Tony
and Terry Gutierrez (uncle and aunt).
Julie gathers all of her materials
from within the Santa Clara Pueblo. She begins with the gathering
of the clay which she then breaks down the clumps to form a fine
powder. This powder is mixed with volcanic ash and water to create
the pliable clay.
This mixture is laboriously
kneaded by hand until a smooth consistent clay is formed. Julie
begins her pots by forming snake like coils of clay and placing
them in a circle. They are pinched and smoothed as the piece
of pottery begins to take form.
Once the pottery has taken
a vessel shape and has been sanded for a fine smooth texture,
Julie hand etches her flowers and fires her pottery the traditional
way - with dung outdoors in an oxygen reduction fire.
Both she and Adrian are featured
in Pueblo Indian Pueblo Pottery - 750 Artist Biographies by Gregory
Schaff.