This is a dynamic jar by Les Namingha.  His pottery designs are a creative blend of Hopi-Tewa and modernist designs.  The jar is one of the largest we have had of his work.  The tall sides allow for all the designs to be seen from top to bottom.  The jar has layers and layers of design.  There are checkerboard, geometric and free-flowing patterns.  Hopi birds are an important part of this jar.  They flow across the surface of the piece in various colors and directions.  Inside each of the birds are tightly painted Hopi-Tewa designs.  It is exceptional in both size and complexity fo design.   Les creates designs that are often thoughtful and with meaning on various levels. This jar is part of his “Urban Polychrome” series, of which Les says:

“The concept of layering is inherent in our mortal journey. As time moves forward, our memories become layered. Some memories remain vibrant, others faint or hazy. Yet others, obscure or even hidden. Likewise, our experiences, words, works, emotions, prayers and songs build up in layers creating our existence. In turn, our societal interactions become exercises in layering. We see this in evidence with street art or graffiti writing where layers of thought and a desire to express a “proof of existence” create tapestries of color and marks. Blending, covering, harmonizing, dissonance, disappearing. This concept of layering is the idea behind Urban Polychrome and other works in the Urban Series.”  Les Namingha