Debra Duwyenie is well known for her wonderful miniatures and incised designs. Each piece is stone polished, and then it is etched before it is fired! This wide bowl was made by  Preston.  The rim and base are slipped with red Santa Clara clay mixed with mica.  Around the top of the shoulder is a polished band with 9 etched turtles.  They are all etched into the clay before firing.  The shell of each turtle is different.  Debra typically etches one of the turtles to have a “shifting sand” design to represent her husband, Preston Duwyenie. There is also a Sun Design and there are wave designs above and below the band of turtles.  Note that the lighter red matte areas are where Debra has only etched away the polished surface but not down as far as the tan color of the clay. Debra also pays close attention to the little details such as the tan background area and how evenly she etches the vertical lines.  The bottom of the bowl is signed “Debra” and with Preston’s hallmark.

Brand

Duwyenie, Debra (b. 1955)

Debra Duwyenie

Debra is renowned for her highly polished incised pottery. At times she also works on pieces with her husband, noted potter Preston Duwyenie. He makes the piece of pottery on these pieces, and she does the polishing and incised designs. Debra is a granddaughter of Petra Gutierrez and the niece of noted potters Gloria Garcia (Goldenrod) & Lois Gutierrez. Debra also made pieces with Harvey Chavarria (1943-1991), which were signed "Debra + Harvey." Significantly, Debra does all of her sgraffito work into the clay before they are fired, which adds to the difficulty of her work. Debra has won numerous awards for pottery at events such as Santa Fe Indian Market.  Debra Duwyenie uses hand-coil, stone polish, paint, open fire, and hand sgraffito designs.  We are pleased to carry a selection of her work at our Scottsdale and Santa Fe locations.

ARTIST NEW ADDITION SUBSCRIPTION

Duwyenie, Preston (b. 1951)

Preston Duwyenie is from Hotevilla, Third Mesa, at Hopi.  He is renowned for his elegant pottery, often highlighted with silver medallions.  He taught ceramics for years at the Institute of American Indian Art (IAIA) in Santa Fe.  He is married to Santa Clara potter Debra Duwyenie and now resides in Santa Clara Pueblo.  Preston has won numerous pottery awards, including "Best of Show" at the Heard Indian Market. ARTIST NEW ADDITION SUBSCRIPTION>