Garcia, Tammy – Large Jar with Fish and Flowers (2018)

9.5"w x 9.75"h

$ 24,000.00

Elegant! This new jar by Tammy Garcia is a delicate shape with correspondingly delicate imagery.  The designs encompass the surface of this piece and the shape of the water jar is striking with the sharp shoulder and the raindrop rim.  The jar has 27 fl0wers, each deeply carved with a raised central section.  There are very delicately carved thin lines which separate each petal of each flower.   There are three elaborate medallions, each carved with a trout in the center.  The trout are amazing, as not only are they highly polished, but each has different marking painted onto the clay.  As for the designs around the medallions,  Tammy says she has been creating “frames” for her designs.  Here, each medallion is framed with bear paws and floral designs.  There are additional bear paws across the surface of the jar. The bear paws are symbolic for good luck.  Note the variety of colors on the jar!  There are deep red and tan areas on the surface.  The various colors are from different clay slips. She has also texturized sections of her work and even rounded out surfaces, like the area above each fish!  The entire jar has numerous levels of carving from the raised flowers to the interiors of the bear paws.  Note as well the matte areas of the jar.  This is technically one of the most difficult parts of this piece, as they have to be sanded perfectly smooth so that no raised areas cast shadows.  It’s very time-consuming.  Tammy has won numerous awards for her pottery and been the recipient of the New Mexico Governor’s award.  It’s not surprising that with the intricate nature of her pottery she makes only about ten pieces of pottery a year.  Yes. Ten!  Yet each piece is unique and expands on her distinctive style and voice in the clay.