While visiting Santa Fe, I had the great pleasure of meeting Ricardo and Victoria Ortiz from the San Felipe Pueblo. I was walking through the Indian Market and was stopped in my tracks when my eye caught this pot. I immediately engaged the Ortizes about its creation. They were wonderful people to talk to, so passionate about their art and culture. They told me all about their process and the clay, referred to as Mother Earth, which is all natural and locally sourced from San Felipe land. Victoria’s role was to process the raw clay, which involves grinding it into a powder using stones before mixing it with water and volcanic ash, which prevents cracking. Ricardo then creates the pottery. He is very committed to preservation, tradition, and the spiritual connection between the potter and the earth, viewing pottery as a “reborn” part of the ground. The designs painted on the pottery are very traditional, symbolic of clouds, lightning, and Kiva steps, reflecting prayers for rain. This pot also has “prayer feathers” along the inside of the rim. It meant a lot to me to meet and connect with Ricardo and Victoria, and I feel very honored to have such a sacred and meaningful piece of their work in my home. So much so, that I wanted it to be showcased in this painting, San Felipe Clay.
Original painting available through King Galleries | www.kinggalleries.com | 480.440.3912 (Santa Fe), 480.481.0187 (Scottsdale)
