Medina, JD – 13″ Wide Jar with Four Koshari Figures and Rain Clouds (1970s)

This is a massive and impressive jar by JD Medina (1935-1983 ).  He was a grandson of Trinidad Medina,  a brother of Rafael Medina and an uncle to Marcellus Medina. JD attended the Santa Fe Indian School from 1949-53 and studied under Geronima Montoya (Ohkay Owingeh) where he learned to paint with watercolors and casein. JD was famous for his paintings.  It was in the 1970s that he and his brother, Rafael, began to paint on pottery with acrylic. The pottery vessels were made by Rafael’s wife, Sofia Medina.  This jar is has a wide, round shoulder and a short neck.  The design has four large Koshari clown figures.  Each is different.  There are small clouds painted along the rim of the jar.  There is also a large cloud design painted separating the figures.  Around the bottom is a rattlesnake.  Note the detail and precision in the painting of the faces and the figures. The jar is a night scene with the black painted background.  It is impressive!  The jar is signed on the side, “JD Medina” and a kiva.  The jar is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.

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Medina, JD (1935-1983)

JD Medina (1935-1983 ) or “José de la Cruz Medina” was a grandson of Trinidad Medina and a brother of Rafael Medina.  He was an uncle to Marcellus Medina. He attended the Santa Fe Indian School from 1949-53 and studied under Geronima Montoya (Ohkay Owingeh). He learned to paint with watercolors and casein. JD was famous for his paintings. In the 1970s, he and his brother Rafael begin to paint on pottery with acrylic. The pottery vessels were made by Rafael’s wife, Sofia Medina.