This is a classic water jar by Robert Patricio.  It is a classic Acoma water jar shape with a high shoulder and a short neck.  The design has deconstructed Acoma birds on each side. It is a fascinating design, as there is the central rectangle with the bird head off to one side and the tail off to the other.  The birds wings are along the neck.  Near the base are feather and rainbird designs.  It is an elaborate pattern.  Separating the two birds are two sections with rainclouds and rain (the thin lines).  The complex patterns also rely on the use of the negative white space to give the painted designs movement.  There is light red/tan clay used for the designs and a darker red for the base and inside the rim. The jar is made from traditional Acoma clay and then painted with bee-weed (black) and two different red clay slips. The base is painted with red clay.  It is signed on the bottom, “R.  M.  Patricio”.  The jar is an exciting extension of his artistry in clay and continuing the amazing Acoma legacy.

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