Vanessa Pettit
As I am finishing my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Oklahoma State University 2013, this history class, regarding the Southwest, has inspired me as an artist to fulfill my passion of Native American art. I have studied art in Taos, Red River, and Santa Fe, New Mexico and have become very interested in the Indians culture. I am a painter as well as a ceramicist therefore the research I have done during this project has given me great pleasure to achieve my goals in traveling to the Pueblos for further research and inspiration.
Laguna: Lake
"Laguna" in Spanish means Lake. The Laguna Pueblo branched off and moved from the Acoma tribe 16 miles to the northeast and was officially established in 1669. Refugees after the Pueblo Rebellion fleed from the area and established the Laguna. Yet, the Lagunas adobted and kept traditions and the language of the Acomas. The Pueblo is on the point above the river and lake on a rounded, rocky ground at which their name is derived. The land lies 45 miles west of Albuquerque, New Mexico and consists of approximately 777 square miles which is considered one of the largest Pueblos even though it is the youngest of all the Rio Grande settlements. The language spoken in this tribe is Keresan.
The Acoma and Laguna tribes both believe that Mother Earth is a spirit and the sky, mountains, animals and all in nature should be honored. To the Indians, everything in this world has a spirit and is alive in some aspect. Clay of the earth is a special and profitable commodity to the tribes and to the white man, it is dismissed as dirt. The Indian potters will pray and have a ceremony to thank Mother Earth for her gifts to them before taking the clay from the ground. The Native Americans know how to have gratitude, honor and respect for what the Earth provides man.
The Acoma and Laguna tribes both believe that Mother Earth is a spirit and the sky, mountains, animals and all in nature should be honored. To the Indians, everything in this world has a spirit and is alive in some aspect. Clay of the earth is a special and profitable commodity to the tribes and to the white man, it is dismissed as dirt. The Indian potters will pray and have a ceremony to thank Mother Earth for her gifts to them before taking the clay from the ground. The Native Americans know how to have gratitude, honor and respect for what the Earth provides man.
Laguna Pottery of Josephine Foard
Languages of Pueblos are different but their artwork and religious beliefs reflect common roots among the tribes. Josephine Foard was an important figure in the Laguna Pueblo as an artist. The photo below shows Josephine looking at pottery in 1902. She moved from the East Coast at a very late age in life (56) to the Laguna Pueblo. The pueblo is located in New Mexico and she had a mission which included showing the women there how to make and improve their pottery. She also wanted to teach them the art of commercial pottery for selling or trading. Throughout her journey, she documented her travels and experiences by journals and letters to friends and family. Foard also recorded her life at the Laguna Pueblo which contained approximately 233 pages.
Josephine Foard and the Glazed Pottery of Laguna Pueblo by Lanmon, Lanmon, and Coulet du Gard
Josephine Foard and the Glazed Pottery of Laguna Pueblo by Lanmon, Lanmon, and Coulet du Gard
Gift of Mother Nature: Clay of The Earth
Pottery was and still is made with clay found in the Earths crust in the form of slabs and chunks. The ancient ways of producing clay as well as the pottery itself is still practiced today in the Indian tribes. The chunks are pounded and ground to a fine powder. This is mixed with sand, powdered shells, crushed soapstone and even volcanic ash to make the body of the clay stronger than if it were by itself. This mixture also allows the pieces made to dry slower and more evenly, causing less cracking. Some of the potters grind broken pieces of old pottery passed down from family and/or friends or found in the ruins which is mixed with their new clay being produced. This is a way to worship and pay respects to their ancestors as the old work is intertlocked with the new. The generations of potters and crafters are now linked together and the tradition continues. The raw clay is then dried and cleaned by grinding and sieving. Once this is done, they soak it in water to break down the molecules of the clay so it will not be lumpy when the potters start building their vessels. The water is changed many times during this process to keep purifying the clay.
The Vessels
In the early ages, crafters did not have the resources and tools that they have in present day. The tools used years ago for pottery were gourd pieces, pebbles, sticks and large rocks. Rabbit tails were used to apply slips and paint to decorate the pots. Acoma and Laguna pottery/vessels were so similar that they were and still are very indistinguishable. This craft of pottery has been passed down generation to generation from prehistoric times and was prodominately done by women as their occupation/career. Researchers have discovered this from the evidence that the tools were only found in female burial sites. Vessels were very important to the tribes economy for they were used in trade markets. The different sized vessels were originally used for serving and storing food. Later on in years they became an art. Agricultural development was boosted by pottery through means of being able to store seeds and also dried corn to make cornmeal. This allowed them to store food for long periods of time, for example, through the winter without mice and insects getting into their supply. Agriculture was Laguna's primary occupation so therefore this was a large advancement for their survival. Before clay pots, animal skins were used to cook with and to carry water from the lake to their homestead. Their lives became easier after the discovery of pottery.
Vessels: Construction
The construction of a pot begins with a slab of clay to form a base. Coils are then rolled and attaches to the base. This process is repeated until the desired height is acquired. Women would work on multiple pieces at one time allowing one to stiffen before adding more coils to prevent sagging or collapsing. The coils are then blended together and scraped until the walls are thin and smooth. Both the Acoma and Laguna's pottery are known for their thin, yet very strong, walls on their pieces. The clay then is left to dry before the final stages begin. Some potters carve designs on the walls of the pots for more decoration. There are many different shapes and sizes of the vessels. The potter decides the needs of their piece.
Wedding Vessel
This particular vessel is very symbolic in the Laguna tribe at wedding ceremonies. The left spout represents the man and the right spout represents the woman. The braided handle symbolizes the unity and interlocking of man and woman achieved through marriage. The shape of an oval under the handle denotes the circle of life. That is why the handle is attached to form the connection. Before the wedding begins, the parents of the groom constructs the vessel from local clay and when the vase is harden, both families get together and council the couple. At this time, the vase is filled with either water, herbal tea or a special nectar from the medicine man. This signifies the blending of the two families. At the ceremony, the bride takes a drink from one spout and the groom then drinks from the same spout. They repeat this same act with the opposite spout. To complete the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom drink from the vessel at the same time. The legend is that if they achieve this without spilling a drop of liquid, the couple will have a strong marriage and last a lifetime. The vase then becomes a piece of art in their home and is honored, cherished and not to be broken.
Vessels: Decorating
To decorate the pots, the women would mix paints from plants and minerals of the Earth. Several coats are applied of liquid clay, which is called slip, with a brush made from Yucca leaves, cloth or leather. Patterns painted are very stylized with geometric or curvilinear motifs. These often represent clouds, animals, or shapes passed down from family ancestors. The Acoma as well as the Laguna tribes have a distinctive white slip (Hopi tribe has yellow) and the designs are painted in yellows, reds, tans, oranges, and dark browns and blacks. These decorations always tell a story about nature or the family and tribes. Native Americans greatly appreciate nature, therefore, the colors on pottery stay with Earth tones.
Spirits of the Earth and Art
The Pueblos state that their culture is an oral culture of passing stories. They document the meanings of symbols through the Native American culture. The spiritual development through symbols, omens, and signs is nature speaking to them as humans. The whites call this supernatural or superstitions but the red man calls it nature communicating with us as humans. Indians consider nature to be sacred, a teacher and/or a healer. Nature is symbolic in language as that of the tribes, symbolism is a strong trait of pottery as well as life.
Legacies on Stone
This is just a few symbols used by American Indians. Symbols and art have been here since man. Rock art is a term referring to pictorial data on rock surfaces: caves, cliffs, etc. These written or carved images, forms and marks tell stories about their life back then. Historians and geographers can date some of this art to around 6400 b.c. The natives would carve in stone what they saw and experienced in life with nature.
Symbols: Nature for Indians
The symbol of an Eagle to the Native Americans is very special and sacred. The Eagle brings good signs: protection, wisdom, wealth, truth, courage, spirituality, power and freedom. Eagles, masters of the sky, roam and rule the sky so the Indians believe that they have a connection with God. The Eagle flies the highest and can see better than any other species of birds. The sayings we use: "birds eye view" or "he has an eagle eye" comes from the Native Americans. It is believed that the Eagle is a messenger of God. It is believed that during a prayer ceremony, if one or more Eagles should draw near then your prayers have been answered. On the other hand, if an Eagle should be sitting in a tree then an encounter will happen with either a medicine man or a tribal leader. The Eagles carry their prayers to the Great Creator, God. Eagle feathers are held with great respect in the Indian culture like the American Flag is a symbol of pride and freedom of our country. If a member of the tribe is granted with a feather, it is a great honor and they will display by hanging it with pride in their home. It is taboo to hide the feather or to let it drop to the ground. Mostly only chiefs or warriors were granted a feather. The feathers were earned by battle and the number of feathers in a headdress or on their clothing would tell great stories about that persons life. In religious ceremonies, dancing, and worshipping, the eagle feather is used as a symbol of the Great Creator, God.
Great Bird Symbols
The following list are symbols and meanings used on pottery of the Laguna Pueblo:
- Blue Jays: noisy, arrogant; steal and cheat
- Buzzard: bad signs; messengers of warnings.
- Crane/Egret: peacemaker, fisherman; he brings peace, stability, and harmony.
- Flickerbird: sign of good; he brings happiness, healing and good luck as well as messengers of lightning and thunderstorms.
- Goose: messengers of seasons.
- Hummingbird: doctor, healer, smart, spiritual; good luck messengers.
- Magpie: wise and clever; messenger of travelers and visitors.
- Owl: bad signs; messenger of evil, sickness, fatality.
- Quail: good signs; friendly people are going to cross your path.
- Raven: messengers of protection, wealth; he fights the bad signs or spirits, guides towards power.
- Robin: love, health, proud, clean, good singer.
- Seagull: stamina, perseverance, survivor; he can go a long time without food and survive in bad conditions.
- Turkey: arrogant, colorful, sneaky, tricky.
- Woodpecker: healing, wealth, good luck; symbols of happiness.
- Wren and other small birds: messengers; this is where the saying, "a little birdy told me" came about.
- Fish Hawks: warns of danger on rivers, lakes and oceans while in a boat.
Birds: Not the Only Symbols
Though birds are sacred and the most often symbols used on pottery, Laguna Pueblos also use bears, wolves, bison, deer, fish, sheep and much more. These symbols date back to the cave dwellings.
Kiln Firing
Firing the vessels is the last and final step. This hardens the clay and bakes the paint into the clay to prevent it from washing away. Pottery to be fired are stacked in a sheltered spot, like seen below in the photo, on a grid over glowing embers before being covered with pot shards or pieces of metal to protect them from the flames. The heap is then covered with cow, sheep or horse dung that is ignited by the embers. Temperatures reach 940 degrees Celcius (1724 degrees Fahrenheit) for approximately one hour. Once the pile has cooled, the pots are extracted, the colours of the decoration are revealed as being far brighter than when applied.