This is a fully painted large water jar by Robert Patricio.  This jar has a round shoulder, elongated neck, and handles. The neck of the jar has flowers.  Around the shoulder are two large heartline deer under a double rainbow.  The rainbows are polished red and tan.  On the sides, under the handles, are classic Acoma birds with flowers and rain designs.  Again, the birds are painted with various colors of clay slips.  Note the flowers with the “heart” shape, which are a revival by Robert from historic pieces, but his addition is the small dots in the center of the flower and the pollen.   Note the hatchwork on the leaves of the flowers near the base. The heartline deer are symbolic in Acoma pottery.  It was borrowed from Zuni pottery around 1910 and the heartline is said to represent life itself.  The jar has a kinetic flow of design that is emphasized by the variety of clay colors!  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 continues 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