Juan Cruz creates extraordinary painted polychrome pottery.  He is a son of noted potter Lois Gutierrez.  Lois made this massive jar and Juan, who is noted for his illustrations, painted the design using natural clay slips.  This jar is a rather massive storage jar shape with the round side and short neck.   Juan wrote of the scene he painted as follows:

“This piece depicts scenes from the story of the marriage of Tayi P’i; when she meets her new husband while still in parrot form and the presentation of gifts from her father to her new in-laws.  The band arcing forth from the geometric parrot design represents the return journey with her new husband when she conducts him safely back to their new home after he made and kept his promise to keep his eyes closed and to place his trust in her.  Upon their arrival she shakes forth the gifts sent by her father from the folds of her wings and transforms into a beautiful woman, afterwards telling her new husband to open his eyes.”

The jar is truly polychrome (more than three colors of clay).  Note the intricacy of the painted designs and especially the figures.  They are each distinctive in stance or dress.  There is a beautiful combination of imagery on the jar which emphasizes the shape but also tells a wonderful story!   While Juan is new to the pottery world, he recently won “Best of Pottery” at Gallup Ceremonials in 2017 and has been featured in articles in Cowboys & Indians Magazine and Native Art Magazine.