Medina-Raton, Rachel – Santa Ana Jar with Swan and Rainbow Designs

9.75"w x 8.75"h

$ 500.00

Rachel Medina-Raton is a daughter of Sofia and Rafael Medina.  She is a sister of Marcellus Medina and Lois Medina.  She learned to make pottery from her mother.  She married Bernard Raton of Santa Ana and moved to Santa Ana Pueblo.  Bernard is a grandson of noted potter Eudora Montoya.  Rachel learned Santa Ana designs and techniques from Eudora.  Eudora also instructed her to create pieces with both Zia and Santa Ana designs.  Interestingly, as Rachel is no longer a tribal member of Zia, she can no longer use the Zia roadrunner. So she developed her own geometric bird (she calls it “the swan”) and she paints it on almost everything she makes.  This large jar has her signature swan design.  It is under a polished red rainbow.  As the jar is turned there is a larger red polished area and two more old-style birds along with rain clouds. The jar is signed on the side, “Rachel Medina-Raton, Santa Ana”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.

Rachel has said:

“My pottery has a story to tell of my lineage the history of my ancestors and a story of where I have come from and where I am now in life. Every pot I create has a piece of my heart. I give it life.”