This is a creative bowl by Russell Sanchez with a turn-down, or “infinity” rim.  The bowl is coil built and the rim is turned downward instead of upward. This adds to the difficulty of making the piece having it survive drying, carving, polishing, and firing!  The rim is fully polished.  There are seven rows of checkerboard designs.  Take a closer look that they are polished, matte, and micaceous!  They are each separated by a row of hematite hei-shi beads. The dot in the center makes this a classic corn design. Believe it or not, this is very difficult to carve the horizontal lines into the clay and have them all turn out even! 

Why does Russell use hematite hei-shi beads? Russell has been using it on recent pieces for several reasons. There is a traditional aspect in that women wear hematite bracelets when they do certain traditional dances at the Pueblo.  There is also hematite content in the clay slips use on the pottery.  

The bowl was traditionally fired and has a near gunmetal appearance that is the result of it being fired longer and hotter than just a black piece so that the surface has a more silvery appearance.  Russell is one of the only Pueblo potters working today who is able to achieve this with consistency!  This may seem to be a simple design at first glance and yet it is probably one of the more challenging forms to make.  It is signed, “Russell” on the bottom.  A wonderful traditional and yet very modern piece!

Russell has said:

“I’m a traditionalist all the way through.  Innovation is part of our tradition. You use the same materials and tools that you have, and the same design elements, and the Clay Mother will come through you for what she wants you to do,” he explains. “Instead of doing the same cloud pattern or serpent pattern, you take that and make it your own. So, in fact, everything I’m doing is old, but new.”  Russell Sanchez, Southwest Art Magazine