This is a large old-style four-color painted water jar by Robert Patricio.  It is a classic Acoma water jar shape with a high shoulder and an elongated neck.  The design combines various traditional Acoma designs into one piece.  There are traditional heartline deer on two sides. This imagery is a classic to both Acoma and Zuni pottery, with the heartline signifying the center, spirit or, “heart” of the animal.  They are tightly painted and are above larger sections with cloud designs.  The opposite sections are very intricately painted.  Above the shoulder are cloud designs with fine-line rain designs.  Below the shoulder is swirling rainbirds and cloud designs.  The jar has a dynamic flow of design and color as the jar combines the elegant use of fine-lines with larger open spaces which moves the eye from one section to another.  The contrast of the deep red and orange-colored clays is visually striking. 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.  The last photo is of Robert next to 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