This is a wide shoulder water jar by Robert Patricio. This jar brings back the classic wide-shoulder Acoma shape with a short, sloping neck.  The neck of the jar is painted with a series of flowers and hummingbirds.  Around the center of the jar are interlocking old-style birds in black-and-white.  Below them are an additional band of birds and flowers.  The contrast of the circular and angular designs draw inspiration from a variety of historic Acoma vessels. Robert has used two different colors of clay along with the white slip and black-bee-weed to paint the designs. The base is painted with red clay and it is indented in the traditional manner reflecting when these vessels were used to transport water and carried on the head.  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