Sergio Lugo is the middle son of noted potter Nancy Youngblood and a brother to Joseph Lugo and Christopher Youngblood.  He learned to make pottery from his mother.  Each piece is coil-built, carved or painted, stone polished, and traditionally fired. This jar is entitled, “The Avanyu”.  It is deeply carved around the center with a fluid geometric and angular style of avanyu or water serpent.  This is a classic design in Santa Clara pottery and one that Sergio has stylized.  The body of the avanyu has small, angular lines that are tightly carved. As the piece is turned, there is almost a circuit board-like appearance to the lines.  The area of the avanyu is highly polished.  The top and bottom areas are matte.  The carved design also has an etched eye as the design.   It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Sergio Lugo”.