Jar, Preston Dwynie (Hopi)

Hopi potter Preston Dwynie’s ceramic jar form uses a strong relationship between three dimensional form, surface clay texture, and hand painted silver luster to create a piece describing Hopi metaphysical beliefs. A central elliptic hole in the jar suggests an emergence point from the underworld of the jar’s interior, with four silver luster kiva step motifs etched into the pots surface suggesting the four cardinal directions of the Hopi world. Wave like textural patterns on the negative space of the jar’s surface suggests rain, water, or moisture, a preoccupation within the Pueblo world and it’s iconography.

Acquired 12/2002.