This is an amazing set of tiles which Virgil Ortiz makes has made as a group.  Each tile is individually designed but we had a museum mount made for the pieces so that they are displayed as a group. When you look at it directly, it almost appears to be one piece as the design flows from one tile to the next.  On the back the same is true with the wildflower design which goes from one tile to another.  However, the stand was made so that every tile is on a different level (front to back), giving it additional dimensionality.  The design on the front of the tiles is Tahu, the Blind Archer in her 1680 version.  The story for this imagery from the Pueblo Revolt 1680/2180 series.  There are also two hummingbirds which are symbolic for Virgil’s mother, Seferina Ortiz, who taught him to make pottery.  Can you see the “spirit line” in the design? It is at the top of the first tile on the left! The spirit line is a break in the painting and used on traditional Cochiti pottery.  Virgil has also incorporated his signature “x”, which is the turkey track into the designs.  The tiles are painted with native clay slips and wild spinach (a plant) for the black.  The piece is signed on the back.  The use of traditional and contemporary imagery has become a standard for Virgil’s pottery as he pushes the boundaries of contemporary Native clay.