LuAnn Tafoya is a daughter of Margaret Tafoya and is known for her large, highly polished pottery.  This is a traditional bowl by Luann.  It is coil-built, carved, and stone-polished. The bowl has a mesa design with the clouds blowing across the sky in the distance.  It is a classic variation of a traditional Santa Clara design.  The bowl is highly polished and traditionally fired red.  The shape and highly polished surface are a reflection of LuAnn’s strength as a potter.  She has a distinctive creativity and commitment to traditional Santa Clara pottery.  The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “LuAnn Tafoya”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.

“When I was twelve, I remember one Saturday morning my mom said, “We are going to polish today.” I looked at her, and I said, “Polish today? I’ve never polished a pot.” She put up a table, and I sat on one side and she sat on the other side. She started putting the clay slip on some small pieces. As soon as it was ready for me to polish, she would hand me the small pot. She kept putting the slip onto six small bowls. It was like a rotation of working on it. After she put the slip on then I would start polishing, so we keep on going. That’s where I remember starting to work on the pots.”  LuAnn Tafoya, Spoken Through Clay