Tammy Garcia is known for her contemporary designs and use of traditional clay. This canteen is coil built, carved and polished with traditional clay slips.  However, the message and style if one of a contemporary imagery. Tammy says of this piece,

“I am building in clay vessels that resemble glass bottles!  This is the “Pop Bottle”.  In pop culture attitudes can be seen in an image through facial expression as in a Roy Lichtenstein painting.  I am fascinated how one word, like, “POW” along, with an image, can tell a story.  Words have become an important part of my design and the exploration of that has just begun!”

This canteen has a female figure on one side with matte and polished clay surface.  The opposite side has the word, “Pow” carved and polished into the clay.  The jar has various levels of carving and use of both micaceous and matte clay slips to accentuate the designs. The idea of glass bottle recreated in clay is a fascinating concept and adds another dimension to the overall concept of this piece.  Tammy has won numerous awards for her pottery for nearly the past 30 years.  Her creative work in clay, glass and bronze is found in museums worldwide.  It is exciting to see how her contemporary work continues to move Pueblo pottery forward with it innovations.