Santiago Romero is the son of noted Cochiti potter Diego Romero and nephew of Mateo Romero.  In the past, he made figurative clay coyotes and smaller vessels.  He is also known for his oil paintings.  This piece is part of his new clay vessel series entitled, “Earth Palette”.  Each piece in this first series captures the essence, colors, and mystery of the Southwestern landscape.  This jar is piece is entitled, “Squash Blossom”.  The bowl has straight sides, which create a “canvas” for the painting. The bottom is interesting, as Santiago said he started it in a basket and left the coils exposed, much like the work of Nathan Begaye (a friend of his father’s).  The sides are painted with a mesa landscape and colorful skies.  The jar is a creative departure from his paintings on canvas.  It is signed on the bottom.  It is exciting to see a new generation of Cochiti potters creating new stories in clay!

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