Cloud Society Praying for Peace on Earth, Water Jar
Sofia Medina, Rafael Medina
Arts of the Americas
Sofia Medina was taught to make pottery by well-known Zia potter Trinidad Medina, the grandmother of her husband, Rafael. Painter Rafael Medina worked primarily in the flat style encouraged by the Santa Fe Indian School. However, in the 1970s, when he and Sofia began working together on pottery, Rafael’s figures became more naturalistic, as seen in the muscled dancers on this black clay jar. The decoration, painted in white slip, juxtaposes the fluid motions of ceremonial dancers with geometric patterns inspired by traditional Zia pottery.
MEDIUM
Clay, pigment
DATES
1970s
DIMENSIONS
11 5/8 x 12 3/4 x 6 3/4 in. (29.5 x 32.4 x 17.1 cm)
(show scale)
SIGNATURE
Signed: "Potter Sofia Medina decorator Rafael Medina".
ACCESSION NUMBER
2012.26.2
CREDIT LINE
Gift of Joann and Sidney Rosoff
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Large water jar shape, finely polished with black background, painted with only white figures framed by arches of pueblo abstract forms reminiscent of the arches on historical Zia pottery where figures are often framed. Each of the four figures has an athletic body and is finely detailed, dancing vigorously around the jar. The figures are all on the surface plane of the jar much like figures drawn for Pueblo paintings in the 1930's would have been.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Sofia Medina (Walatowa (Jemez Pueblo), 1932-2010). Cloud Society Praying for Peace on Earth, Water Jar, 1970s. Clay, pigment, 11 5/8 x 12 3/4 x 6 3/4 in. (29.5 x 32.4 x 17.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Joann and Sidney Rosoff, 2012.26.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.2012.26.2_view2.jpg)
IMAGE
overall,
CUR.2012.26.2_view2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2012
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
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