Thea Rose Cata is a descendant of Elizabeth Tafoya Lovato (San Ildefonso) and Mary R. Cata (Ohkay Owingeh).  She comes from two distinguished families of potters.  Her pottery is made from native clay, coil-built, carved, incised, or painted and traditionally fired.  This bowl takes inspiration from traditional Ohkay Owingeh pottery from the 1930s to the 1960s. The bowl is polished red on the top and bottom, The central band is both incised and carved.  The carved areas have mesa and cloud designs. The clouds are slipped with a blue/gray clay.  There are larger incised areas with rain or rainbow designs and then smaller incised panels of design.  The larger carved areas are also slipped with tan clay and outlined with gray clay.  The bowl was traditionally fired, and there is some color variation on the bottom.  I think this is very exciting, as it shows that she is doing traditional firing and the coloration adds to the impact of the piece. Thea also said the white clay she used fired out this blue/gray color, which is beautiful on her pieces.  Sometimes it the unknown in pottery of what will happen in the firing that creates the most exciting results!  The jar is signed, T. Rose.  We are excited to see more from Thea and hope she spurs on another revival of Ohkay Owingeh pottery for the new century!  Finally, check out the last photo.  It is this bowl next to a piece by her grandmother, Mary R. Cata from 1977!