This is a lidded water jar by Tammy Garcia.  The jar is carved on numerous levels with contrasting polished and matte surfaces.  The piece is entitled, “Singing Water, Wild Roses”. The name comes from the words carved around the neck of the jar. Tammy said of this piece:

“Words have power.  Recently, I have felt compelled to add the words “Kha’Po Owingeh” to some of my pottery.  Why? It is the Tewa name for Santa Clara Pueblo. It can be translated as either Singing Water Village or Village of Wild Roses.  I want to feel that connection to home and remind people that it is not just our artistry but our language, culture, and history that is imbued in each piece of pottery.  The words with my designs create uniquely powerful pieces that might be unexpected, but I think speak volumes.”

Tammy said that the typeface was important to her when she was putting the words on the jar.  She wanted it to have a classic typewriter or newspaper font.  There are small flowers (roses) separating the words.  There are clouds around the top of the shoulder, and two deer are carved and polished into the piece. The jar is carved at various levels.   A good example is the deer, where the layers are the flowers, the deer, the legs, and the background!  There are also bands of flowers extending down the side. The jar has a lid with carved flowers on each side, and they are each inset with a piece of turquoise.  It is a beautiful balance to the jar.  Overall, the jar has layers of design and depth with polished, matte, and stippled areas.  Tammy says of her current work:

“I am inspired by the forms and designs of historical Pueblo pottery.  When making pottery, there is intentional placement of every coil.  Once I have a design in mind I’ll make proportions on graph paper.  Clouds on the shoulder will look scalloped after I have them carved.  When the clay is dry I send then polish with a smooth stone over a clay slip.”

Each of Tammy’s pieces tells a story about family, culture, tradition, and personal creativity.  The jar was fired red and is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Tammy Garcia”.