Marcellus
& Elizabeth Medina
Zia Pueblo
Traditional
Zia Olla
11" H
x 11" D
Marcellus Medina was born
into the Zia Pueblo in 1954. He was inspired to continue the
family tradition of pottery making by his ancestors, the support
of many people, creative inspiration, and economic motivation.
Marcellus is a painter from
Zia Pueblo. He paints traditional and contemporary images in
watercolors and acrylics. He is a self taught painter and has
been painting since the age of 10.
He has devoted the majority
of his life to being an art student and currently is still a
practicing artist.
Marcellus signs his pottery
as: Medina, year, and accents it with a zia bird symbol, Marcellus
is related to the following artists: Elizabeth Medina (spouse),
Sofia Medina (mother), and Lois Medina (sister).
He has won many awards including
first place at Santa Fe Indian Market, and Best of Show at the
New Mexico State Fair.
He appears in the following
publications:
-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000
Artist Biographies
-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni
-Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery
-American Indian Pottery
-Talking With The Clay
-Southwestern Pottery 1999 Edition
His work can be found in the
following permanent collections:
-Albuquerque International
Airport, Alb. NM
-Boston Museum of Fine Art, Boston MA
-School of American Research, Santa Fe NM
Elizabeth Medina, “Sepia,”
was born in 1956 into the Jemez Pueblo. She married into the
Zia Pueblo. She was inspired by her Mother-in-Law, Sofia Medina,
to learn the art of working with clay.
Elizabeth observed Sofia with
much enthusiasm in hopes of achieving the same skills. It appears
from what Elizabeth has accomplished, that she has achieved her
goal.
Elizabeth specializes in the
handmade traditional Zia pottery with traditional symbols and
birds. She digs up her own clay, cleans, mixes, coils, shapes,
fires, and paints her pottery the traditional way, with natural
colors.
Elizabeth signs her pottery
as: Elizabeth Medina, Zia. Elizabeth is related to the following
artists: Marcellus Medina (husband), Lois Medina (sister-in-law),
and Sofia Medina (mother-in-law).
