This is a spectacular jar by Susan Folwell.  She is one of the exciting innovators in Pueblo pottery.  This piece is part of her series, “Taos Light: Canvas to Clay Pueblo Perspectives”.  Beginning in 2017, Susan Folwell began a series of clay pieces inspired by and re-interpreting the Taos Society of Artists’ work from 1915-27.  The design on the jar comes from a painting by Oscar Berninghaus entitled, “Rabbit Hunter” (see the last image).  Here, Susan has not just used the image, but the clay vessel itself becomes the “sack”!  The jar is coil built and given a very organic shape.  The surface is textured and the various angles add to the “trompe l’oeil” effect.  The jar is painted with various clay slips and highlighted with paint.  There is a small leather “patch” added to the back.  Overall, quite dynamic!  It is signed on the bottom, “Susan Folwell”.

Susan said of this piece:

“I made this piece for the exhibit at the Harwood Museum in Taos.  It was meant to sit next to a painting by Oscar Berninghaus.  The original painting is pastel, which gives it a happy vibration despite the rabbit.  I decided to make a clay “sack” as if the rabbit was inside.  When the piece is turned around there is a small suede leather patch that appears to be “sewn” onto the sack.  It’s actually where the hole is for the bowl so that it will survive the firing!”

Susan Folwell: Taos Light, Canvas to Clay