Santa Clara Pueblo black pottery vase by Chris Martinez

Description:
This black pottery vase by Chris Martinez (Chris Martinez is a traditional potter from Santa Clara. He learned the traditional art from his grandmother, Flora Naranjo, his mother, Barbara Martinez, and his sister, Vickie Martinez. He likes to make larger pottery than most contemporary Santa Clara potters) features a carved avanyu design - meaning Òwater serpentÓ - is commonly depicted on San Ildefonso and Santa Clara Pueblo pottery. The Avanyu Avanyu symbolizes the importance of water to indigenous desert cultures. This symbol is also associated with lightning as shown by the serpentÕs tongue. The upper semicircular portion of the logo represents eagle feathers. The smaller enclosed and crosshatched semicircle is also a rain symbol. The crosshatching represents rain and the upward directed semicircle is a traditional cloud symbol).

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