This is thin-walled water jar by Jared Tso.  He is one of the rising stars of Native pottery.  He is a grandson of potter Faye Tso and his pottery is exceptionally refined in technique and traditional in style.  Each piece is coil-built from traditional native Navajo clay and traditionally fired.  The shape of this jar is inspired by the historic Navajo “tus”, or cooking vessel.  The narrow base on this traditional form allowed them to be put into the ground for stability when cooking.  The exterior has the coils exposed and the interior is stone polished.  There is a samll circular handle near the rim of the jar.  The piece was traditionally fired to create blushes on the surface.  After the traditional firing, it was covered in pinon-pitch.  It is exciting to see an artist find inspiration in the historic work, and, using the same clays, create something so dynamic.  Vessels such as this find strength in their traditional techniques yet are refined in a modernistic manner.  The jar is signed, “Jared Tso”.

THE CONFLUENCE OF TRADITION AND MODERNITY: The Ceramic Art of Jared Tso