This is a tightly painted water jar by Robert Patricio.  He is known for his classic forms and use of both traditional and pre-historic imagery.  This jar is made from native clay, and it is coil-built and thin-walled. The jar has an indented shoulder where it dips down before it comes up to the rim.  The design is a new one for him, with a series of interlocking butterflies. They are painted with red clay and bee-weed (black).  The coloration and fluidity of the design draws the eye across the surface of the jar.  The butterflies seem to swirl around the jar from the rim to the base.  It is a striking design!  The jar has both an ancient and yet modern appearance.  Robert is certainly one of the leading traditional Acoma potters working today, as evidenced by his stunning forms and complementary designs.  The jar is signed on the bottom, “R. M. Patricio”.

Robert said recently of his pottery:

““The pottery inspires me to keep going.  Keeping the tradition alive in making pottery, that’s how we were brought up.  Our ancestors started making pottery.  It’s amazing what comes of a piece of clay. When you come to Acoma it’s peacuful and quite.  When you look a piece of pottery, you see the same peacefulness.”   Robert Patricio, 2020