This tile by Jason Garcia was made for the “Force is with our People” Exhibit in 2020 at the Museum of Northern Arizona and featured in the Plateau Magazine catalog accompanying the exhibition.  The tile is made from native clay and painted with native clay slips. The figure is a young Hopi girl with her hair in the classic Hopi whorls.  She is dressed in a traditional manta with the kiva in the background.  However, to the side is Princess Leia of Star Wars. Of course, we all know that her hair whorls were inspired by those on Hopi girls.  More interestingly, Jason has painted to represent the dreams of the girl.  Is she wishing to be Leia, wishing to be in a “galaxy far, far away”, or knowing that someday she may grow into a person of equal resilience and resistence?    A simple piece, yet powerful with content.  All of the colors are derived from Native clay and it is traditionally fired.  It is signed, “Okku Pin” which means “Turtle Mountain” in Tewa.