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 water jar is coil-built and thin-walled.  The shape is inspired by historic forms with an indented shoulder.  At the shoulder, Robert pushes the clay downward and then coils it upward to the rim.  It is a difficult form that has more opportunities to crack in drying and firing. However, it is an amazing form for his painted imagery.  This jar has a modified version of the classic lightning design. In the larger rectangular designs, there are thin lines representing rain or mist.  There are smaller, interlocked red and orange colored-clay sections that are the “sunrise” seen through the rain or mist.  The flow of the design on the indented shoulder seems to give an appearance of movement through the use of thin lines!  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 jar has a second place ribbon from the 2023 Gallup Ceremonials.

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