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 jar has a kiva step rim.  The neck is incised with feathers.  There are two panels of Potsuwi’i inspired Brian designs.  Around the center is a water serpent that is painted with clay slips.  Around the shoulder is the exceptional part of this jar!  There are tiny clouds, arrows, along with eight panels of Posuwi’i incised rain designs.  The lines are precise and perfectly etched.  The rain clouds are slipped with blue-gray clay.  The bottom of the bowl is fully polished. The piece was traditionally fired and there is some color variation on the bottom.  I think this is very important, as it shows that she is doing traditional firing and the coloration adds to the impact of the piece. As well, Thea 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!