This is an exceptional large jar by Johnathan Naranjo.  It is fully designed with four figures (or five, as Johnathan points out, if you include the dog!). As the jar is turned, it captures several different Pueblo dancers.  There is a young girl with a tablita on her head and a basket.  Next is another young woman in her manta holding pieces of pottery in her hand and on her head.  The next is a young male dancer with evergreens around his neck and in his hands.  Finally, there is a Koshari clown holding a dog.  Each of the figures is exceptional in their design.  Johnathan has a talent for depicting figures on his pottery.  They are simply incised into the clay and the various depth of the blade determines the coloration from tan to light red!  The skill and precision required to make the small cuts and create detail and shading is amazing.  A few areas of note are is the detail in the jar on the girl’s head, the shading on her manta, the detail in the tablita, and, of course, the dog!  The piece speaks to the continuity of Pueblo ceremonial dances and also the humor in the clowns.  The coloration of the jar is derived from the firing technique.  Johnathan has won numerous awards for his pottery.  The piece is signed on the bottom in the clay.

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