LuAnn Tafoya
Santa Clara
Santa Clara
Olla
12" H
x 11" D
Lu Ann Tafoya was born and
spent her childhood in Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico. She began
creating art by helping her mother, Margaret Tafoya, by polishing
pottery at the age of twelve and a year later; she began creating
her own works.
Polishing is the most enjoyable
part for her; Lu Ann and Margaret Tafoya are noted for her large
deep glossy finish pieces of pottery. The largest piece Lu Ann
has created is a storage jar, which measures 29 inches high and
the most prestigious honor is Best in Show at 2003
at the Santa Fe Indian Market hosted by the Southwestern Association
for Indian Arts (SWAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Lu Ann creates her pottery
using only traditional methods; digging her own clay, slip and
temper from mother earth. The walls of the pot are built up from
rope-like coils of clay done by hand (No potters wheel
is involved), later, the carved designs are then added. The slip
(a mixture of red clay and water) is applied onto the surface
of a pot and hand polished to a fine luster with a stone.