Rain Scott is the son of jeweler Raynard Scott (Navajo) and a descendant of Marie Z. Chino of Acoma.  He says that growing up in Arizona, he wanted to learn to make pottery but didn’t have anyone to teach him.  In 2011 he began working with origami, the art of creating objects with folded paper.  From 2013 to 2018 he experimented with the art form and in 2018 made his first vessel, an Acoma jar.  He calls his style, “contemporary indigenous origami”.  Each piece is made from thick paper and creates a corrugated texture.  This piece is entitled, “First Light”.   The jar is made from individual pieces of white and gold paper.  The gold “first light” of dawn swirls from the rim to the base.  When looking down into the jar there is a starburst pattern on the base.  It is a striking piece in color and design.  There are thousands of pieces of paper used to make this jar! The piece is signed on the bottom, “Rain Scott”.  It’s exciting to have such innovative work in the gallery.  The last photos are of the piece in process in our recent artist demo in Scottsdale. 

“I call my work contemporary origami pottery.  I came up with them as I wanted to learn to make traditional pottery.  I never had a teacher to show me how to get the clay or slips.  I was always creative with paper.  I started out with swans and then one day wanted to see how I could make a vase.  It took a lot of experimentation”.  Rain Scott