Margaret and Luther Gutierrez
Encyclopedia
Margaret Gutierrez and Luther Gutierrez (1911–1987) were brother and sister Native American
potters from Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico
, United States
. They continued the polychrome style of painting made famous by their parents Lela and Van Gutierrez. They learned the art from their parents and began making pottery together in the 1960s.
Margaret and Luther’s painted slips included unique color combinations. Their first creations included polychrome bowls, jars and wedding vases with designs centered on the Avanyu (water serpent), rain, clouds and lightning and sky bands. In the 1970s they came up with their original idea of making polychrome caricatures of animals and other smaller figurines rather than the jars made famous by their parents. These were painted with the same slips and pigments used on earlier pieces.
Margaret and Luther participated in the Seven Families in Pueblo Pottery exhibition at the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology
, University of New Mexico
in 1974, and the Popovi Da Studio of Indian Arts, gallery show in Santa Fe
in 1976.
After Luther died Margaret continued to make pottery with the assistance of Luther’s daughter Pauline but Pauline died shortly thereafter. Margaret now works with her great-niece Stephanie Naranjo. Today, the manufacture famous multicolored polychrome is waning. Luther’s son Paul and his wife Dorothy make blackware mudhead
figures and animalitos (small animals) in large quantities.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
potters from Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. They continued the polychrome style of painting made famous by their parents Lela and Van Gutierrez. They learned the art from their parents and began making pottery together in the 1960s.
Margaret and Luther’s painted slips included unique color combinations. Their first creations included polychrome bowls, jars and wedding vases with designs centered on the Avanyu (water serpent), rain, clouds and lightning and sky bands. In the 1970s they came up with their original idea of making polychrome caricatures of animals and other smaller figurines rather than the jars made famous by their parents. These were painted with the same slips and pigments used on earlier pieces.
Margaret and Luther participated in the Seven Families in Pueblo Pottery exhibition at the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology
Maxwell Museum of Anthropology
The Maxwell Museum of Anthropology is an anthropology museum located on the University of New Mexico campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The museum was founded in 1932 as the Museum of Anthropology of the University of New Mexico, becoming the first public museum in Albuquerque...
, University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
in 1974, and the Popovi Da Studio of Indian Arts, gallery show in Santa Fe
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
in 1976.
After Luther died Margaret continued to make pottery with the assistance of Luther’s daughter Pauline but Pauline died shortly thereafter. Margaret now works with her great-niece Stephanie Naranjo. Today, the manufacture famous multicolored polychrome is waning. Luther’s son Paul and his wife Dorothy make blackware mudhead
Mudhead
Mudhead may refer to:*"Mudhead," a song by Combustible Edison from their 1996 album Schizophonic!*"Mudhead," a song by The Supersuckers from their 1994 album La Mano Cornuda*snake mudhead, a type of fish...
figures and animalitos (small animals) in large quantities.
Reference and Further Readings
- Allan Hayes and John Blom - Southwestern Pottery: Anasazi to Zuni. 1996.
- Maxwell Museum of Anthropology - Seven Families in Pueblo Pottery. 1974.
- Schaaf, Gregory - Pueblo Indian Pottery: 750 Artist Biographies. 2000.