Chase “Kawinhut” Earles is one of the few Caddo potters working today.  He has created a series inspired by Indigenous Futurism as a way to understand and focus on historic Caddo vessels and designs. His current show is entitled, “Ancient Ancestors”.  This piece is entitled, “Nah-ka-kah-hi-yoo” and it is a traditional Caddo disc jar with an elongated neck. The piece is coil-built and stone polished. The shape is exceptional and the designs and coloration from the firing are striking!  It is meant to be a companion piece to “Ancient Ancestors:  Food Sovereignty”.

Chase said of this jar:

“Within the vast collection of ancient and traditional Caddo pottery are shapes that invoke contemporary ideas within our thoughts and imagination. This very classic flat disc shaped bottle stirred in me the ideas surrounding the growing phenomena of UAPs. Growing in acceptance and understanding, but it has been here forever.”

Chase says of his current show, “Ancient Ancestors“: 

“Over the past several years, I have explored Native American Futurism within the context of Star Wars imagery.  Recently, I have tried to reconcile that the ideas of Bigfoot or UFO’s are some new phenomena.  The truth is these have long been part of Native American cultural identity.  We have revered the “Sky People” and “Hairy Man” for over 1000 years.  Much of what is “paranormal” in contemporary culture is “normal” in ours. I prefer to think that it was our ancestors, not the “ancient aliens” who were the creators of amazing ancient architecture and art in the Americas.  Maybe they were impressed with our works when they visited and maybe we even supplied them with ideas.  We were the Ancient Ancestors.”

The Caddo were a tribal group throughout the Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana areas.  Chase draws inspiration from the ancient Caddo pieces and yet they are not replicas.  The connection in the ancient work is in the clay, firing, and shapes.  He is primarily self-taught both as a potter and in his research of the Caddo ceramic past.  He has sought out the clay sources and each piece is coil built.  They are then slipped with a clay and mussel shell mixture and then burnished three times.  The result is a shiny surface with flecks of shell reflecting light.  Each piece is then pit-fired which not only hardens the clay but gives them fire clouds and color variations on the surface. After they are fired Chase etches into the surface of the clay to create intricate designs.  The delicate designs are almost a surprise considering the hardness of the clay after the firing.

Chase Kawinhut Earles: “Ancient Ancestors”