This jar by Les Namingha is inspired by the classic Acoma butterfly wing design.  A few years ago he made a piece inspired by the Wild Spinach plant from Cochiti.  This jar follows a similar them. The small ovals are often interconnected on Acoma (think Dorothy Torivio) and Zuni vessels to make butterfly wings. Here he has simplified the oval and then overlaid them hem larger ellipses of color. Les was able to paint the various colors and the look nearly transparent, one on top of another!  There are the same ovals extending down from the neck and base.  On the top and bottom, you can also see the combination of the mica clay with the paint.  It is the dynamic painting on this jar which seems simple but is quite exceptional. Les says the jar fits into his “Urban Polychrome” series as it looks at the layer of material and designs used throughout the Pueblos and Hopi.   It is a dynamic blend of ideas, layers, and forms.  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