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gallery Online special Event: innovators in native Clay |
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Santa Clara Pueblo
Thursday, March 4 |
Hopi
Thursday, March 4 |
Santa Clara Pueblo
Friday, March 5 |
Santa Clara Pueblo
Saturday, March 6 |
Cochiti Pueblo "Contortionista" Saturday, March 6 |
New Works By Each Artist Will Be Online the Day of Each Show.
King Galleries is pleased to
present one of our
most
highly anticipated events of the year!
A Showing of New Works by five of today's most innovative and
dynamic Native American potters in
a series of gallery openings over three days!
Each
of these renown potters is featured in numerous national and international
museums and shows exclusively in Arizona at King Galleries.
We hope you enjoy these important new works of art in clay!
Contact the gallery at 480.481.0187 or at kgs@kinggalleries.com with any questions or for more images.
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Grace Medicine Flower Santa Clara Pueblo |
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Thursday, March 4, 2009 7 pm to 9 pm, Artist in Attendance |
Grace. . . a name which describes both her
work and her person. Each piece of her pottery has an elegant beauty and after
over 40 years as an artist, she continues to be one of the most innovative and
influential potters working today! Her complex imagery, from butterflies
to hummingbirds, reminds us of our delicate relationship with nature. Each
piece in this show leads us forward to a connection with the earth, the Clay
Lady and the traditions of Santa Clara Pueblo.
Click here to a biography on Grace Medicine Flower.
#1
Three Painted Ponies
The horses on this seedpot were inspired by the clay horses which Grace's father, Camilio Tafoya, made in the 1950's. Each of the three horses are carved into the clay and then painted with native clay slips before the piece is fired. Technically, this is amazingly difficult to create such a "painterly" feel to the colors on the horses, as the clay is quickly absorbed. She dabs the clay onto the surface, creating a 'watercolor" style appearance. There are two horses on the top of the seedpot and one on the bottom. They are surrounded by cloud, wind and rain patterns which are also carved into the clay.
4.5"w x 2.75"h
$5600.00 - SOLD
#2
Hummingbird Swirls
This long neck jar by Grace has three incised polychrome hummingbirds on one side and a relief carved hummingbird on the other side. The depth of the carving varies on each of the hummingbirds. They are surrounded by polished and micaceous surfaces. Note how when the piece is turned over, it is fully carved onto the base as well!
4.25"w x 3.25'h
$5500.00 - SOLD
#3
This seedpot is a technically amazing smaller piece by Grace. When the clay is still wet, she carves through the surface, here creating water patterns which extend through the top and surround the fish! Each of the fish is carved in relief on the surface of the seedpot and then incised with traditional designs. All the additional colors are derived from natural clays. The forms of the fish are inspired by the fish found on pre-historic Mimbres pottery. Take a moment to view all three pieces and note the various levels of carving, it is
4.5"w x 2.5"h
$5000.00 - SOLD
For this jar, Grace has carved away at the mouth of the piece to create an asymmetrical opening. Around the top are three matte medallions, each with an incised eagle. They are each surrounded by a different style of eagle, which is carved, fully polished red and incised with designs. In the first image above there is an additional eagle in the lower half of the jar, incised into the clay and then highlighted with black. The remainder of the designs are deeply carved into the clay and then either polished, matte or micaceous clay slipped. While this bowl has a simplicity in color, it is a powerful design which makes it so visually spectacular!
5.5"w x 7"h
$8800.00
#5
Butterflies in Motion
Simply stunning! This large jar by Grace is a technical masterpiece and also elegant and beautiful! It reflects how Grace Medicine Flower is creating a style of Santa Clara pottery which is unlike the work of any other potter working today. Combining carved, incised and sgraffito areas with polychrome, matte and micaceous areas on a fully carved vessel is an amazing feat! For the jar itself, Grace has carved through the entire piece around most of the top half! That it didn't crack during the drying or firing stages is amazing. She has then incised a series of butterflies around the top half of the jar. Some are polychrome, some incised into the red clay slip, but each is different. Note in the first image above how the butterflies are accented by the carving through the jar! The lower half of the jar is either polished or slipped with a micaceous clay slip. This jar is dramatic in its appearance and a testament to the skill and creativity of this amazing potter!
6"w x 7.75"h
$10,500.00 - SOLD
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Al Qoyawayma Hopi |
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Thursday, March 4, 2009 7 pm to 9 pm, Artist in Attendance |
Al
Qoyawayma learned to make pottery from his aunt, Elizabeth White.
Each piece is coil built and based on historic Hopi forms and designs.
The architectural series of pottery are all forms where the building are
"pushed out" in the clay and then incised to create the intricate
designs of the Pueblo ruins. The polychrome pottery is among the newest
innovations of Al's pottery, and involves the use of numerous clay slips
which are either polished or matte on the surface of the vessel.
#1
Corn Maiden
This figurative piece is a classic style from Al Qoyawayma. The figure is a corn maiden, and it is meant to have a somewhat mysterious appearance of a figure wrapped in a shawl. The space for the face is cast in shadow, adding to the mystery of the Corn Maiden herself. Technically, the sides and back of the figure are fully polished. The front has a corn stalk in repousse, as the clay has been pushed out from the inside to create the form. Al has then textured the entire ear of corn to have a realistic appearance and texture.
5.5"w x 11.5"h
$6500.00 - SOLD
#2
"Path of Life", Mauve Clay
This bowl is inspired by the pre-historic Sikyatki pottery, which has a wide, flat shoulder. The piece has been stone polished in a vertical or "onion-skin" manner and it was made this piece with a beautiful and very unusual mauve colored clay! Al calls this piece, "The Path of Life". Note the small raised area near the mouth, it has been carved with an ancient style pueblo wall and key-hole doorway. Take a closer look at the images and note how the walls are tightly carved and etched to create the feeling of actual stone. Interestingly, the door is visible from both the front and the back of the piece! The concept of the piece is that in one's path of life, there is always a new door leading somewhere and sometimes the door is an unexpected opening.
12"w x 5.75"h
5400.00
#3
Half Arch Mesa Verde, Two Kivas
This bowl is one of Al's signature "architectural" pieces. Scene is a from Mesa Verde and the Pueblo Ruins are created in repousse, with the clay pushed out from the interior of the piece! The pueblo is then incised and slipped with natural clay slips. The surrounding area of the bowl is fully polished in contrast to the matte of the architectural area. The pueblo ruin here at Mesa Verde is more complicated than many in this size, as there are two kivas and a tall tower. Note as well how the walls of the kiva extend over the side of the "arch" of the bowl!
12"w x 8.5"h
$9200.00 - SOLD
#4
Three Sided Polychrome Box
In recent years, Al Qoyawayma has created his own disticntive style of polychrome pottery. Each piece is not only carved and incised, but then slipped with natural clay slips to highlight the carved areas. Adding to the complexity of this style, Al has also stone polished the slipped areas, to create a brilliant surface shine! This box is wonderfully complicated with three sides and a fully carved lid. One side has a bird feather pattern, the other a cloud and sun design. On the back if a flute player and a stalk of corn. the lid is wonderfully designed with a spiral cloud pattern carved into the clay! Simply beautiful!
7" long x 6.25"w x 6"h
$10,500.00 - SOLD
#5 Polychrome
"Kiva Pept" Jar
This large polychrome vase is entitled, "Kiva Pept" by Al. The name of this piece comes from the Pottery Mound ruin in New Mexico. When it was excavated in 1958-9, panels were found on the walls with distinct Sikyatki style designs. One such panel was found in his designation “Kiva 9”, or kiva pept in Hopi. The entire vessel is fully polished and there is a rectangular panel which has been carved, incised and slipped with native clay slips. Take a closer look at the fourth image above, and note the incredible dimension of the carved surface, as he has four levels of carving in this design!
Al says, "My design on the vase was influenced by a panel found in Kiva 9 which was far more complex than the design I have adapted for use on the vase I call “Kiva Pept”. In my use of anything related to my Sikyatki ancestors I use the influence of the design by picking how and where to incise, selection of slip colors, etc. It is the “style” that is important and the fact that in my re-creation that the vessel and design becomes my relative, for I am breathing in the essence of my relatives in the distant past. I often refer to pots as my children. So I have many children."
7.75"w x 13"h
$14,000.00
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Susan Folwell Santa Clara Pueblo |
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Friday, March 5, 2009 11 am to 1 pm, Artist in Attendance |
Susan Folwell is firmly placed in the
foreground of a new generation of Native American artists, pushing to re-define
traditional art forms. She fuses together traditional material with
unorthodox textures, shapes and designs which places her art on the cutting
edge. This show brings together work which ebb and flow in form and
content from serious to sublime, like the dreams and night visions of the artist herself!
Click here to view a biography on Susan Folwell.
#1
Lizard Tales
This is a stunning use of form and design. The shape of the bowl has a very organic feel with the rim rippling inward and outwards! The entire piece is fully designed with a central band of lizards incised into the clay. They are standing on blocks, creating an amazing sense of depth and realism for each lizard. The top and bottom of the bowl are fully designed with a mosaic pattern which in incised into the clay and replicates the style of the lizards tails. Simply wonderful!
11.5"w x 10"h
$4800.00
#2
Woodpecker Plate
This plate is incised with a woodpecker as the design in the center. The rim is roughened to give the piece an older appearance and texture.
13" diameter
$1800.00 - SOLD
#3
Orchid Jar with Carved Rim
This is a stunning vessel, as Susan explores some of the sculptural and carving techniques in her pottery. The jar is meant to resemble an orchid and it is simply amazing what Susan was able to create with the clay! The interior is polished while the exterior is polished brown. Note in the third image above how the rim is carved and then painted on the interior! A very subtle but elegant piece!
12"w x 10.25"h
$2000.00 - SOLD
#4
Jar with Wasps
This is a fascinating jar which is both sculptural and also incised with wasps. Take a closer look at the piece and note the variety of design elements, textures and colors used!
7"w x 11"h
$3000.00 - SOLD
#5
Melon Ribbed Bowl
This bowl is simple but a wonderful form. The bowl is is designed to be a balance of color and also texture. The exterior is rougher while the interior is a more matte appearance. A simple statement to the use of form and color in her pottery.
8"w x 4.25"h
$600.00 - SOLD
#6
Long Neck Jar with Lizards
The form of this jar is inspired by a shell. The surface is incised with lizards and Susan's signatures "x's at the top and the bottom. The rim is polished and note was well the protrusions around the shoulder.
8"w x 11"h
$2500.00 - SOLD
#7
Mosaic Deer In Motion
This asymmetrical jar combines several patterns of mosaics and tightly incised designs. The deer on each side are fully polished and surrounded by various pueblo designs. In the first image above, the area behind the deer is fully incised with "x's" or stars. The jar has spectacular form with a beautiful winding of the clay from the base to the rim, with perfect balance!
9"w x 17"h
$4500.00
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Nathan Youngblood Santa Clara Pueblo |
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Saturday, March 6, 2009 11 am to 1 pm, Artist in Attendance |
The pottery of Nathan Youngblood continues
its creative evolution. Through his ancient techniques of making pottery,
Nathans reveals the past, yet continues to invigorate his work with detailed
imagery and a glimpse into the future of Pueblo pottery. A testament to his famous line of descent,
each piece defines itself in contemporary terms. His new work
for this show reveals more intricate carving balanced with elegant traditional
forms and a lustrous, mirror-like polish! He continues to set the bar high
for creativity, innovation and technical expertise.
Click here to view a
biography on Nathan Youngblood.
#1
Black & Tan Egg
It is almost a decade ago that Nathan made his first "Pueblo Egg"! He initially made eight pieces, four red and four black. After ten years he decided to try one of the eggs again! This piece is amazingly complicated with the top half and the base fired black, while the lower half of the egg is fired tan. The top half has a water serpent carved around the rim and cloud and rain patterns filling in the remaining areas. The tan half has a walking bear paw design near the rim and a water serpent near the bottom. There is a classic “four directional” key hole pattern on the very bottom of the piece. The base is also beautifully carved with a feather design around where the egg sits and a water serpent at the base. Each piece is fired separately and they all fit perfectly!
7.25h x 8.25”long x 6”w
$8900.00 - SOLD
#2
Black Bowl Walking Bear Paw and Avanyu
This bowl is a wonderful form with a wide shoulder and fully carved designs. Around the neck are carved walking bear paw patterns. Below is a single water serpent encircling the bowl. The contrast of such angular designs and a round form are stunning!
7.5"w x 4.25"h
$6800.00
#3
Four Generations Canteen
This canteen brings together four generations of Tafoya family tradition. The canteen is a "women's" canteen, which is why it is standing upright. There are four medallions around the body of the piece, each with a different style of bear paw in the center. There are the bear paws of Sara Fina Tafoya, Margaret Tafoya, Mela Youngblood and Nathan Youngblood. The entire piece is fully polished and the handle is matte. Elegant and a wonderful piece of history!
6"w x7"h
$7500.00 - SOLD
#4
Black Double Shoulder Water Jar with Triple Avanyu
This black water jar is truly spectacular! It is a classic double shoulder water jar shape and it is fully polished to a glassy black. Below the shoulder are three carved avanyus and around the neck are rain clouds. Note as well the inside of the neck is also polished. A beautiful combination of traditional and yet with a modern artistic appearance!
6.5"w x 7.5"h
$8900.00 - SOLD
#5
Tri-Color Long Neck Double Shoulder Jar
This long neck water jar is just breathtaking! The long neck ends at a double shoulder and the entire top three-quarters of the jar is fully polished red. The top has a walking bear paw design. One side has medallion with cloud and rain designs. In the red band surrounding the medallions there is a single, very intricately carved avanyu. The tan polished area has water and well-spring designs. The form, designs and complexity make this a simply amazing piece of Nathan's pottery!
7.25"w x 10.75"h
$18,000.00 - SOLD
#6
Tri-Color Jar with Handle and Bear Paw
WOW!! This long neck water jar is a wonderful form variation for Nathan. The jar has a single medallion on the neck with a fully red polished bear paw. The area around the neck has cloud and rain patterns while there is a series of geometrics near the base. The matte bands further accentuate the asymmetrical shape of the jar. The handle has a red mica clay slip and an incised deer track. This jar is spectacular with its use of form and intricate designs combined with a perfect polish!
8"w x 10"h
$15,500.00 - SOLD
#7
Tri-Color Plate with Cloud Pattern
This tri-color plate is based on a traditional serving bowl, which is why there is an indention at the top of the piece (where your thumb would go when using it to serve food). Nathan has taken considerable time to research classic forms, especially utilitarian forms, and revive them with his distinctive style of carving. The tri-color plate on the left has a central medallion with cloud and rain patterns. It is further encircled by additional cloud patterns. The central area is fully polished red, while the rim is polished tan. The coloration of the red is derived from the red clay slip which is then stone polished. Interestingly, the tan polished area is technically the most difficult color to achieve in Santa Clara pottery as no slip is used, only water, and then it is stone polished.
7.75" diameter
$5400.00
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Virgil Ortiz Cochiti Pueblo "Contortionista" |
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Saturday, March 6, 2009 2 pm to 4 pm, Artist in Attendance |
The
fantasies and imagination of Virgil Ortiz take a new turn in
Contortionista: VO
Cirque
Performers.
This
new series of clay figures and vessels delight the senses and amaze the eye.
Virgil has taken inspiration from
the late 1800’s Munos figures of Cochiti Pueblo which depicted
Southwestern traveling circus sideshow acts. Today, Virgil’s pieces
tumble, twist and meld together as never thought possible
before. They seemingly defy gravity as they rise above the pedestals, taking
flight to the ceiling and the walls. Virgil brings
Contortionista: VO
Cirque Performers
to the center ring
and delivers an unexpected exhibition.
Each piece is coil built and painted with native clay slips and all imagery is painted free-hand using wild spinach plant for the black !
Click here to view a biography on Virgil Ortiz.
#1
Presenting....Four Figures... but only one "VO"
Virgil said that he has been waiting years to have the ability to make this particular piece. It is four figures, two in the center as a circle and two at angles, however it is all one piece. They are joined together and create Virgil's logo, a "VO". The figures are painted with sun and lightning patterns. The piece is made so that it can be hung on a wall, however we have also had a metal museum mount made so that it can stand on its own as a sculpture.
16"w x 13"h (w/o Stand)
$6000.00 - SOLD
#2 Jar with Six VO Cirque Figures
This jar for "Contortionista" brings together several different styles of Virgil's pottery. The six figures are in silhouette and surrounded by his classic tendril designs. Virgil said that he wanted them to look like they were contortionists trying to avoid the tendril patterns, hanging from the rim and balancing off the base of the jar! This piece is a wonderful shape with an elongated body and a short neck. It seems to perfectly capture the concept of his "Contortionista" exhibition!
8"w x 12"h
$5000.00
#3
Jar with 4 VO Cirque Performers
This jar for "Contortionista" reveals figures in silhouette. The figures are rising up from the base or seeming to tumble through the tendril designs. The roundness of the figures is further accentuated by the circles and spikes of the tendrils. The jar is a beautiful shape with a lower shoulder and an elongated neck. The painting is beautiful with a deep black coloration to the wild spinach.
8"w x 10.25"h
$4400.00
#4
"Digital Scan" Floating Figure
This figure as part of "Contortionista", the figure has twisted themselves up while hanging upside down. Virgil has created a very sculptural figure with the arms and legs curled up around the body. The figure is made to be hung and we have had a metal museum mount made so that the piece can stand on its own.
4"w x 7.5"h (16"h w/ Stand)
$1800.00 - SOLD
#5
Acrobat "Contortionist" Figure
This figure is symbolic of the "Contortionista" theme, with the arms and legs are sharp angles. The body is fully painted with circles and geometric patterns. While the figure can be seen floating as part of the show, it also stands on its own. Technically it is amazing that Virgil was able to create such a complex figure in motion.
11" long x 7"h
$2500.00 - SOLD
#6
Split Legged Contortionista Acrobat
Take a closer look at this figure. It is an acrobatic figure in the middle of the splits, seeming ready to enter into a summersault. The figure can be seen floating as part of the show, or simply on its own. The detail of the painting and the complexity of the form are simply wonderful!
17" long x 4.5"h
$2200.00 - SOLD
#7
Honeycomb Design Floating Figure
This single figure in "Cortortionista" has made to be hung and has his arms around to the back. The figure is painted with a honeycomb pattern and take a closer look at the images to see the intricacy of the designs! The figure was made to be hung, but has a metal museum mount so that it can stand as a sculpture.
4"w x 15"h (16"h w/ Stand)
$2400.00 - SOLD
#8 Female "Circus Trainer" with Four Legged Tick
No Circus is complete without an animal trainer! Virgil has created this beautiful female trainer and her wonderful "tick". The figure is wonderfully sculptural and beautifully painted. She is holding a leash in her had for the large "tick" creature which Virgil has created. The painting on both pieces is simply outstanding, with extraordinarily intricate designs which follow the shape and form of the pieces. These two pieces were created as a pair, and note the charming faces on both the trainer and the tick!
Female Trainer: 20"h x 7"w
Tick: 13"w x 11"h
$13,500 set of two - SOLD
#9
"VO Cirque" Femme Fatale
This lovely lady is the VO Cirque "Femme Fatale". Virgil has beautifully created her from out of clay with sharp spikes to the dress and clay hair accented by additional hair insets. The angles of the design are perfectly created to accent the form. She is certainly ready to sweep any of the men at this Circus off their feet!
19.5"h x 7"h
$7500.00 - SOLD
#10
Four Legged Tick with Lightning Design
This is the second animal which is part of the "Contortionista" show. The figure has four legs and a charming face. Virgil has tightly painted the entire body including the legs and back. Take a closer look, as the face is very charming on this wild "creature"!
10"w x 11.5"h
$5500.00 - SOLD
#12
Ring Master & Animal Trainer
The "VO Contortionista Cirque" includes such a dynamic variety of figures, jars and animals. The Ring Master figure is holding his arms above his head and note the intricacy of the designs on his arms. The figure is holding a leather whip to keep the Cirque "animals" in line! Virgil has symbolically recreated this figure in silhouette on one of the jars for this show. It is wonderfully intricate in its design and the complexity of form.
6"w x 17.5"h
$6500.00