Maria Martinez: World-Renowned Potter of San Ildefonso Pueblo
Maria Martinez (1884 - 1980)
Of Tewa heritage of the San Ildefonso Pueblo in the Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico, Maria Martinez became world-renowned for her black-on-black pottery.
Learning to make pots as a child from her aunt, Tia Nicolasa, and beginning with clay dishes she made for her playhouse, Maria was known as a potter among her peers. In 1908, Dr. Edgar Hewett, New Mexico archaeologist and director of the Laboratory of Anthropology in Santa Fe, had excavated some 17th century black pottery shards and, seeking to revive this type of pottery, Hewett was led to Maria. Through trial and error, Maria rediscovered the art of making black pottery. She found that smothering a cool fire with dried cow manure trapped the smoke, and that by using a special type of paint on top of a burnished surface, in combination with trapping the smoke and the low temperature of the fire resulted in turning a red-clay-pot black.
Maria, who made but never painted the pottery, collaborated with her husband Julian, who not only assisted in the gathering of the clay and the building the fire, and, most importantly, painting the motif on the pottery. Julian painted Maria's pottery until his death in 1943. During the early years of pottery making, Julian broke away from farming to became a janitor at the Museum of New Mexico in Santa Fe. It was here that he and Maria studied the pottery in the display cases, observing form, motif and technique.
Maria was always deeply connected with her pueblo of San Ildefonso, with the traditional life of a tribal member, partaking in tribal ceremonies and religious activities. Although she was successful in Santa Fe selling her pottery, she preferred living in her ancestral home. Maria was very unselfish with her talent, and she gave pottery lessons to other women in her village as well as in to potters in neighboring pueblos, thereby providing a new source of income to many. After her husband's death, she worked with her sons, Popovi Da and Adam, and her daughter-in-law, Santana in continuing her work throughout her life.
Maria Martinez became so admired for her skill that she was specially invited to the White House four times, and she received honorary doctorates from the University of Colorado and New Mexico State University. She is considered one of the most influential Native Americans of the 20th century.
Of Tewa heritage of the San Ildefonso Pueblo in the Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico, Maria Martinez became world-renowned for her black-on-black pottery.
Learning to make pots as a child from her aunt, Tia Nicolasa, and beginning with clay dishes she made for her playhouse, Maria was known as a potter among her peers. In 1908, Dr. Edgar Hewett, New Mexico archaeologist and director of the Laboratory of Anthropology in Santa Fe, had excavated some 17th century black pottery shards and, seeking to revive this type of pottery, Hewett was led to Maria. Through trial and error, Maria rediscovered the art of making black pottery. She found that smothering a cool fire with dried cow manure trapped the smoke, and that by using a special type of paint on top of a burnished surface, in combination with trapping the smoke and the low temperature of the fire resulted in turning a red-clay-pot black.
Maria, who made but never painted the pottery, collaborated with her husband Julian, who not only assisted in the gathering of the clay and the building the fire, and, most importantly, painting the motif on the pottery. Julian painted Maria's pottery until his death in 1943. During the early years of pottery making, Julian broke away from farming to became a janitor at the Museum of New Mexico in Santa Fe. It was here that he and Maria studied the pottery in the display cases, observing form, motif and technique.
Maria was always deeply connected with her pueblo of San Ildefonso, with the traditional life of a tribal member, partaking in tribal ceremonies and religious activities. Although she was successful in Santa Fe selling her pottery, she preferred living in her ancestral home. Maria was very unselfish with her talent, and she gave pottery lessons to other women in her village as well as in to potters in neighboring pueblos, thereby providing a new source of income to many. After her husband's death, she worked with her sons, Popovi Da and Adam, and her daughter-in-law, Santana in continuing her work throughout her life.
Maria Martinez became so admired for her skill that she was specially invited to the White House four times, and she received honorary doctorates from the University of Colorado and New Mexico State University. She is considered one of the most influential Native Americans of the 20th century.
Maria Pottery - Family Collaboration
Julian Martinez
Julian Martinez (1879-1943)
Julian assisted Maria in the gathering of the clay, the fire-making, and painted the motifs on Maria's vessels. His paintwork is "characterized by the abundant use of narrow lines and designs composed of many intricate elements [...] Julian was a perfectionist and an innovator, always searching for new ideas in technique and design." (from The Legacy of Maria Poveka Martinez, Richard L. Spivey page 20) |
Adam and Santana Martinez
Adam Martinez (1903-2000) was the eldest son of Maria and Julian. He married Santana Roybal (1909-2002).
Following Julian's death in 1943, Adam and Santana helped Maria with the design and firing of her pottery. Pieces during this collaboration were made between 1943 and 1954, and are signed "Maria + Santana." In 1994, Matt Wood had the pleasure of welcoming Adam and Santana Martinez to the Wood family's first gallery in Laguna Beach, California (above photograph). |
Popovi Da
Popovi Da (1923-1971; born Antonio Martinez)
Popovi Da was a son of Maria and Julian. Following his service in the Army during World War II, Popovi Da studied art at the Indian School in Santa Fe in the 1950s, focusing on pottery making. Popovi was involved in pottery making with Maria in the 1940s as he assisted her in the gathering of clay & paints and in the firing of the pots. In 1948 Popovi Da and his wife Anita Da opened the Popovi Da Studio of Indian Art at San Ildefonso Pueblo to promote and sell Indian arts and crafts and display Maria's exceptional pottery. He began helping with the decorating and painting of Maria's pottery in 1950. |