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