This is a large piece by Lorraine Gala Lewis.  She learned to make pottery at IAIA and from Nathan Begaye.  Her work focuses on pre-contact forms and designs, which she uses as a source of inspiration.  Each piece is coil built, painted, fired and then textured to give it a more historic appearance. This piece is entitled, “Tularosa Snake”. The shape and designs are inspired by the pre-contact Tularosa effigy piece from 950 to 1200.  The snake is intricately painted with a checkerboard pattern.  It is thin walled and the entire piece is hollow.  It is intriguing to see how the designs she revives are still used today by so many potters from Acoma, Laguna and other pueblos.  It is signed on the bottom.