Artist Bio:
Dusty Naranjo was born in
1968 into the Santa Clara Pueblo. She is the daughter of Tito
and Bernice Naranjo. Dusty learned how to hand coil traditional
pottery when she was approximately twenty years old.
Dusty was inspired to learn
the art of pottery making by observing her Mother, also a well
known pottery artists from Santa Clara.
Dusty chose to continue hand
coiling the sienna firing style, which is a color in-between
that of the traditional Santa Clara black and red. The sienna
style, or technique is the style the “Naranjo Family”
is well known for making.
This is a contemporary style
started in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, however,
this style is now considered a staple style from the Santa Clara
Pueblo. She gathers her natural pigments from within the hills
of the Santa Clara Pueblo and uses traditional methods while
making her fine masterpieces.
Dusty was not raised in a
strictly pueblo environment. Her father, Tito Naranjo, was a
university professor and this less-traditional upbringing probably
accounts for the contemporary styles of Dusty's pottery.
In fact, Dusty did not even
pursue pottery until a little later in life. She first graduated
with a BA in psychology from NM Highlands University and recently
obtained her Master's Degree in Art Therapy.
However, having been exposed
to pottery making throughout her life -- both her parents pot
and her father's siblings are Jody Folwell, Nora Naranjo- Morse
and Dolly Naranjo -- it was perhaps inevitable that Dusty give
it a try.
When she did begin potting
she discovered that is was a wonderful creative process. Using
only traditional techniques, Dusty is now a well known potter
having progressed far in a short period of time.