Olla with Bear Paw Design
by Tina Garcia (1957-2005), Santa Clara Pueblo
hand carved redware clay
4" high x 4" diameter
Tina Garcia was born in Oregon in 1957 and moved to Santa Clara Pueblo when she was 5. Pueblo children are rarely taught to make pottery, instead, they learn by watching and experimenting with clay on their own. She was inspired to learn the art of pottery making from Lydia Garcia (mother), Angela Baca (aunt) and Severa Tafoya (grandmother). As a young child, Tina observed them with a careful eye in hopes that someday she too would be able to add to the legacy of artisans.
Tina displayed a strong interest in continuing the family tradition of making pottery at the age of 11 at which time her mother began to share her traditional pottery making knowledge. Tina began hand coiling pottery professionally in 1980, and enrolled in the School of American Research to study older, traditional pottery.
All of her materials are provided for her from elements of the earth. She gathered her own clay, cleaned, mixed, shaped, coiled, and fired her pottery the traditional way, outdoors. Her pottery shows remarkable gift for form, and her polish is of superior quality.
Tina worked with many prestigious pottery demonstrations and assisted in producing a video along with Bruce Hucko for the Wheelwright Museum in Santa Fe, N.M. about traditional pottery in our current era.
Tina Garcia was a sister of Greg Garcia, Virginia Garcia and John Garcia. She won numerous awards for her pottery including best of division at Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Museum Market. Her pottery can be found in important private and public collections including the Heard Museum, the Denver Art Museum and the Museum of the American Indian at the Smithsonian.
