This is a traditional water jar by Tammy Garcia.  The jar is carved on numerous levels with contrasting polished and matte surfaces.  The neck is carved with 16 feathers encircling the piece.  Each feather is deeply carved into the clay and stone polished.  Below the shoulder is an avanyu encircling the jar.  Tammy has carved the piece so there are lighting designs that are behind and in front of the avanyu!  Here ability to create dimensionality in her designs is amazing.  The entire background of the jar is stippled.  Stippling is a process by which the clay surface is punctured over and over to create a texture.  It is a striking contrast to the polished and matte surfaces.  The jar is a complex combination of traditional designs, various textures, and classic form.  It is signed on the bottom “Tammy Garcia 2022”.  Tammy has won numerous awards for her pottery and has 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.  Yet each piece is unique and expands on her distinctive style and voice in the clay.