Rainy Naha took her inspiration for this wide shoulder jar from a Sikyatki polychrome vessel from 1550-1600. The jar was featured in Edwin Wade’s seminal book, “Canvas of Clay”.  Interestingly, Wade spoke with several Hopi educators to identify the designs on the surface.  The triangular designs are the “Shakako” cloud pyramids.  The more complex panels separating the clouds for Rainy are inspired by various designs used by Nampeyo of Hano and her mother, Helen “Feather Woman” Naha.  There are rain, cloud, mesa and lightning designs.  They are each placed one on top of the other so as to identify the parameters of the world from sky to earth.  The jar itself is painted with natural clay slips to achieve the various colors.  The black is derived from bee-weed (a plant).  The jar has been traditionally fired which results in a very pearlesent coloration to the white.  It is signed on the bottom with a feather and Rainy’s name.  The last photo is from the book, “Canvas of Clay” and it is the Sikyatki jar which inspired Rainy for this piece.  It is exciting how she has used both ancient designs and more modern motifs of the Hopi-Tewa matriarchs as the foundation for this striking jar!