Forrest Naranjo
Santa Clara
Kokopelli
Buffalo
2 3/4"
H x 3 1/4" L
Forrest Naranjo was born in
1963 into the Santa Clara Pueblo. He began making pottery back
in 1986 at the age of 23. Forrest specializes in the handmade
Sienna style or technique, which the Naranjo family is known
for today. The Sienna firing is a color in between that of the
traditional black or red.
Although Forrest Naranjo has
spent little time living in or around the the pueblo, he has
developed a great talent as an innovative potter from Santa Clara.
His father, Tito Naranjo,
was a university professor, thus Forrest was raised away from
the pueblos. This is no doubt why his pottery has a very contemperary
feel and often incorporates designs that reflect his interests
rather than pueblo life.
For example, Forrest has done
pottery with bicyclists and others with undersea life. These
reflect his years spent racing mountain bikes (1995 NM State
Champion) and more recently, his interest his scuba diving. Not
content with reef diving, Forrest was recently certified in cave
diving and has already made a dive trip the the caves of Mexico's
Yucatan.
He has also spent a number
of years as a dance instructor. He admits that he took up pottery
to earn a living and was inspired by his relatives. In as much
as his father's siblings are Jody Folwell, Dolly Naranjo, Nora
Naranjo- Morse and Michael Naranjo (sculptor) it is understandable
why his pottery took the direction it did. His sister is the
well known potter Dusty Naranjo and his mother is a Taos potter,
Bernice Suazo Naranjo.
Forrest mixes, hand coils,
shapes, etches, and fires his pottery the traditional way, outdoors.
He signs his pottery as: Forrest N.
Awards:
-New Mexico State Fair
-Gallup Indian Ceremonial
Publications:
-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni
-Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies
