Garcia, Greg – Red Gourd Bowl with Six Indentions (1990s)

5.5"w x 3.5"h

$ 550.00

Greg Garcia was known for his use of classic Santa Clara forms for his pottery.  He learned to make pottery from his grandmother, Severa Tafoya and also worked closely with his sister, Tina Garcia.  This bowl has a wide shoulder and is a “gourd bowl” shape.  The style comes from the indentions on the top of the shoulder.  Technically, they create more surfaces to polish and more opportunities to crack when drying or firing.  The entire piece is fully polished and fired a glassy red coloration.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair. It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Greg Garcia”.

Why is it called a gourd bowl?  Mary Ester Archuleta told me the story about the form in the book, Born of Fire:

 The Story of the Gourd Pot”  “Remember the story about the gourd.  The gourd was asking Mother Clay, why she was just used for shaping the pottery. Why was she not given her own design? So she was allowed to create her own design.  That’s why we have this shape, with the flat sides.”  Mary Esther Archuleta, Born of Fire