Zia Pueblo pottery olla Sofia + Lois Medina 9.25\" x 8\" roadrunner For Sale

Polychrome jar with road runners, Signed Sofia + Lois Medina, Zia at bottom of design. It has 4 panels of a roadrunner in a reserve, each surrounded by varying loops and petals, all in hues of red, orange, and black on a beige ground. Sofia Medina was renowned for her traditional style Zia pottery. She was a daughter of Juanita Pino, the wife of Rafael Medina and the mother of Marcellus Medina, Samuel Medina, and Lois Medina. She learned to make pottery from Rafael\'s grandmother, Trinidad Medina. It is coil built, painted with native clays and native fired. Sofia won numerous awards for her pottery at events such as Santa Fe Indian Market, and her work can be found in museums nationwide such as the Peabody Essex, SAR, and the Heard Museum. Size: 9.25\" Diameter x 8\" H
Sofia Medina (1932-2010) and Lois Medina (1959-2003) are a mother and daughter team which with combined efforts produced some of the finest Zia Pueblo pottery around today. Sofia has been making pottery since 1963. Trinidad Medina, her husband\'s grandmother, who was one of Zia’s finest potters, taught her all the fundamentals of making traditional Zia pottery and encouraged her to continue the family tradition of hand coiling pottery.

Sofia and Lois specialized in making hand coiled Zia pottery just like their ancestors before them. All the materials used on their pottery come from within the Zia Pueblo. The clay is gathered from the grounds within the pueblo. They clean, mix, hand coil, shape, paint, and fire the pottery the traditional way, outdoors. The colors are derived from natural plant life and minerals also found within the Zia Pueblo. They both contribute equally while constructing their pottery. Trinidad encouraged Sofia to teach each and every one of her children the art of hand coiling traditional Zia pottery, so they may be able to contribute to the legacy which is bestowed upon them as well. Sofia said, “Spiritually, making pottery eases your mind, and I sing while making pottery.” They sign their pottery as: Sofia Medina-Lois Medina, Zia. Or in this case, Sofia + Lois Medina Zia.