Lee Ann Cheromiah (b. 1954) is a daughter of noted potter Evelyn Cheromiah (1928-2013) and a granddaughter of Mariano Cheromiah.  She is a sister of Wendy Cheromiah. Lee Ann is known for continuing her mother’s revival of traditional Laguna pottery.  This jar is coil-built from traditional clay and painted with red clay slip and bee-weed (black).  The jar has a star design on the top and bottom.  The central diamond shapes have fine-line rain and cloud patterns.  It is a complex jar and, while traditional in design, the complex imagery has a modernist appearance.  The jar is signed, “L. A. Cheromiah”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.

“Working beside my mother, she would tell me about making pottery; from mining, cleaning, grinding of the pottery shards and the mixing of the clay, to the sacred belief we have for Mother Earth. While preparing to mine the clay, I was told to make food offerings. My offerings came from my breakfast, as we always went for clay in the morning. In addition to these food offerings, I would always bring some corn meal. With these I would offer and pray to the Clay Woman. In my prayers, I would ask that I be allowed to mine the clay safely, and that the clay would be easy to mine. I would also pray that my work with the clay would be easy and plentiful, meaning that I would be able to sell my pots and use the gifts (money) for my family and home, and that I would be able to help others when in need. After the clay was mined I would take it home, welcome it to my home, and invite her in.” Lee Ann Cheromiah, Talking to the Clay