This is a complex and colorful water jar by Robert Patricio.  Robert is known for his classic forms and use of both traditional and pre-historic imagery.  This jar is coil built and thin-walled. It has a classic water jar shape with a high shoulder and a short neck.  The jar is inspired by a historic Acoma jar with a checkerboard pattern (see last photo).  Robert has painted a checkerboard pattern around the neck with red and orange clay slips.  The alternate with fine-line painted squares.  There are additional checkerboard patterns painted below the shoulder.  They have additional plant designs extending from them.  Robert says that the checkerboard patterns are often meant to represent cornfield or corn.  The design of this jar is both colorful and visually striking!  The interior rim and base of the jar are painted with a red clay slip.  Robert is certainly one of the leading traditional Acoma potters working today which is evidenced by his stunning forms and complementary designs.  The jar is signed on the bottom, “R. M. Patricio”.  The second to last photo is of Robert holding the jar.

Robert said recently of his pottery:

““The pottery inspires me to keep going.  Keeping the tradition alive in making pottery, that’s how we were brought up.  Our ancestors started making pottery.  It’s amazing what comes of a piece of clay. When you come to Acoma it’s peacuful and quite.  When you look a piece of pottery, you see the same peacefulness.”   Robert Patricio, 2020