Tina Garcia
(d.)
Santa Clara
Bear Paw Vase
7 1/2"
H x 6" D
Tina was born in Oregon in
1957 and moved to Santa Clara Pueblo at the age of 5. Growing
up, she watched her mother, Lydia Garcia; grandmother, Severa
Tafoya; and aunt, Angela Baca, make black pottery. She started
potting herself at the age of 11 and showed much early talent
which was encouraged by her mother.
In 1980, Tina decided to make
pottery for a living. She went to the School of American Research
to study their collections and after careful consideration decided
to focus on classic traditional shapes without the carving typical
of Santa Clara pottery.
All of her materials are provided
for her from elements of the earth. She gathered her own clay,
cleaned, mixed, shaped, coiled, and fired her pottery the traditional
way, outdoors. Her pottery shows remarkable gift for form, and
her polish is of superior quality.
In her prime, Tina produced
some of the finest quality pottery, and her capability of making
large was well known. Some ranged from 20” to 25” in
height and diameter.
Tina worked with many prestigious
pottery demonstrations and assisted in producing a video along
with Bruce Hucko for the Wheelwright Museum in Santa Fe, N.M.
about traditional pottery in our current era.
She was one of the finest
potters working in this undecorated style. She won numerous awards
with the following some of the highlights:
Santa Fe Indian Market
Best of Division 1986
Best of Division 1996
First Places virtually every year The Katherine and Miguel Otero
Award for Excellence in Any Category 1995.
Publications:
-Southwestern Potttery: Anasazi
to Zuni
-Pueblo Indian Pottery: 750 Artist Biographies