This is a complex use of traditional designs by Robert Patricio.  He is known for his classic forms and use of both traditional and pre-historic imagery.  This classic Acoma water jar is coil-built and thin-walled. The design is a variation on the famous Acoma lightning design.  On this piece, he has grouped the two bands of color together and then separated each pair by a section with fine-line designs. It creates a dramatic appearance with this particular coloration combination.  This jar has 15 rows of design that get larger at the shoulder and smaller at the rim and base. The flow of the design on the water jar shape looks as if one is seeing the lightning strike in a cloudy sky. The jar has both an ancient and yet modern appearance.  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”.

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