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The Pottery of
Margaret Tafoya
By: Rachel Feasler and Victoria McKee
Historical Information• Born on August 13, 1904 and died on February 25,
2001• She was the matriarchal of Santa Clara Pueblo
potters.• Learned how to make pottery from her mother,
Sara• Margaret’s husband, Alcario, helped her make her
creations. • Margaret has won awards for her pottery including:• Best of Show Award (1978-79) at the Santa Fe
Indian Market• (1984) National Endowment for the Arts awarded
her the National Heritage Fellowship Award• Awarded as Master of the Arts in 1985
Social & Contextual Information
• By the 1970’s Margaret’s pottery was in high demand, yet she continued to sell pieces from her home at the pueblo.
• Tafoya’s art encompassed her cultural and religious beliefs.
• The myths and legends of the Santa Clara Pueblo can be seen in the shape and symbols of Margaret’s pottery.
• Her trademark were large, black, polished jars decorated with the traditional imagery of bear claws, water serpents, and rain clouds.
• The symbols of the pottery are simple and uncomplicated, they do not distract from the shape, but enhance the form.
Symbols
Water Serpent “Avanyu” Symbolizes the
importance of water to indigenous desert cultures
The lightening symbol is used as the serpents tongue to signify the storm coming that brings in the rain and water to the pueblo people.
More Symbols
Bear ClawPueblo people
respected and looked in awe toward grizzly bears.
Thought of bears as gods
Bears were the center of Indian legends and many stories
Symbols Cont…
Grizzly bears were feared but were still hunted in some cases for the need of food.
Bear claws were made into necklaces as well. (this was known to bring protection and good health to those who wore the jewelry).
The Wedding Jar
• The wedding jar has an easily recognized shaped bowl with two spouts connected by a strap handle.
• The wider of the two spouts was traditionally reserved for drinking by the groom.
• Today’s firing process makes them suitable only for decoration.
The Clay
• The white pieces of clay have not yet been polished.• They are the natural color of the native clay when it is dry.•Alcario, Margaret's husband, would dig up the clay for her and even help her think of her designs.
NoticingsWhat we see:
• Shiny- all look like they have a special glaze on them• Black and brown (a few white pieces in pictures)• Most are very large• Unique shapes• Some pots very small• Each has at least one Pueblo symbol• Some symbols are hidden among the other symbols• Margaret is wearing the same necklace in most of
her pictures• The walls of the exhibit are made of dirt
Noticings continued…
What we hear/smell:• Hear nothing; very
quiet• Only noises are us
talking• Peaceful• Smells like dirt
What we feel:• Calm• The rough texture
of the walls• Cool temperature
of the room
Questions we have…
• Who came up with the symbols used on the pots?• Who started the Pueblo pots?• How do they get to be so shiny?• How long is the entire process to make one pot?• Can you buy these pots? How much would it cost to
buy one of them?• Are making the pots difficult?• What techniques are used?• Why was this exhibit chosen to come to the museum?• What age are Pueblo people taught to make pottery?• Do men make pots too, or just women?
Personal Connections
Victoria• Taken art classes in
high school and made pottery.
• One piece in particular that larger and covered in what looks like the same substance.
• Previous visit with class.
Rachel• Taken an art/pottery
class in high school as well.
• Not very artistically inclined so I really can appreciate the art when someone is very skilled at pottery.
• Previously visited exhibit with class.
Curricular Connections
• The previous visit to the Erie Art Museum and the tour where we listened to the history & learned about Margaret and the Pueblo people.
• Exhibits just like this one have traveled to museums all over.
• This is not only art, but can be a beautiful, functional piece.
Possible Lines of Inquiry
• Aesthetic: How does Margaret Tafoya use color, texture, shape, and proportion to create the pottery?
• Pedagogical: How does Margaret Tafoya’s pottery change our perception of the history of pottery?
Key Ideas
• Combining nature and manmade materials
• The significance of the symbols• How are pots all made so similar?
Lines of Inquiry
• Aesthetic: – How can we tell what the pot is for
based on the shape of it and the symbols on it?
• Pedagogical: – How can we communicate through art
instead of words?
Experiential Activity Ideas• Create pots of out clay and incorporate the important symbols of the Pueblo people.
• Paint, on paper bags to make it fun, the symbols of Margaret Tafoya.
• Field trip: to the Erie Art Museum, or other Museum with visiting exhibit, to see the pottery firsthand.
• Read a children’s story to help teach the students about Margaret and the Pueblo people.
Mind Map
Margaret Tafoya Pottery
Noticing
Reflection
Questioning
Activities
Hear, See,
Smell, Feel
Mostly large pots, smells like dirt,
sounds calm and silent, symbols on
the pots
Who first created the pots? What
techniques are used? Who crated the symbols?
Create own pottery and
try to recreate the
symbols using paint
and cut outs stamps.
Key Ideas
How are the pots all similar but hold different meanings. Its
combines nature and manmade materials
After revisiting the Margaret Tafoya exhibit
and doing our own research we have come to realize how valuable her and her pottery was in her own life and in the
lives of every pueblo person she created these
amazing pots for.
References
• Erie Art Museum- Information posted around the exhibit
• http://erieartmuseum.org/exhibits/exhibits2011/MargaretTafoya/MargaretTafoya.html
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