Clay Pot, Melissa Talachy (Pojoaque Pueblo)

Pojoaque Pueblo artist Melissa Talachy’s Casino pot is a magnificent study in balancing traditional Pueblo high craft pottery techniques with content. Her traditional Tewa pottery form emerges from a time consuming, laborious process of Native clay hand coiling, low-relief carving, slipping, and firing. In addition to the amazing three-dimensional forms that emerge, this potter is able to successfully integrate mainstream Indian Casino motifs in the form of card suits and dice carved into the body of the pot area. It is this interplay between exquisite form and content-based motif that gives insight into reading Mrs. Talachy’s work.

Acquired 8/2002