Juan Cruz is creating some beautifully painted polychrome pottery.  He is a son of noted potter Lois Gutierrez.  Lois made the jar and Juan, who is noted for his illustrations, painted the design using natural clay slips..  The jar is an elegant wide shoulder jar with a low shoulder and sloping neck neck.  Juan wrote a description of the jar as follows,

“This piece depicts a gathering of women and children at a spring; collecting water with their clay vessels and gourd ladles.  Between the two central figures of the piece is the stylized representation of the spring with accompanying plant and insect life sprouting forth from its abundance!”

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. Each piece of pottery is also different with variations in color, shape or design.  The background designs of the dragonflies and how they connect to the sashes of the various women is a symbolically beautiful part of this story.  The jar has been traditionally fired outdoor and overall is a striking coloration.  It is signed on the indented bottom of the jar by both Juan and Lois.  The description is written on the back of a hand painted graphic of a Pueblo woman and child.  What a phenomenal addition to this piece and the painting helps to better understand how exceptional Juan is with his art.