The effigy parrots by Autumn Borts-Medlock have certainly become a signature piece of her pottery.  The parrots are coil-built and then carved and stone polished.  This is a larger clay parrot that is fully carved!  The parrot is polished red on the beak and the flowers.  The wings are deeply carved and textured.  They are highlighted with green, blue, red, white, and yellow clays.  Autumn has created a “Rainbow” of clay colors on the wings!  The piece is carved in numerous levels of design.  There is a single inset piece of turquoise on the back.  It is an exceptional amount of work in the various levels of carving combined with polished and stippled surfaces.  It is very complex in imagery.  The piece is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Autumn Borts-Medlock, 2024”.

So, why so many parrots on Pueblo and Hopi pottery?   In the pre-contact era, there was a small parrot that was indigenous to the southwest area.  As well, parrot feathers were traded with Central American tribes and were highly valued. Today there are Parrot Clans at Hopi and parrot feathers are used throughout the Pueblo world in various ceremonies and dances.  So, it is not unexpected to see parrots featured on pottery from the various pueblos and Hopi.  They are certainly part of the cultural and historic background of these amazing potters!