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Ann was born to an Illinois farming family on March 21, 1953. She became interested in art during her early childhood and later began formal studies at the University of Arkansas where she received her bachelors degree.
During Ann’s college years she entered into a religious community and became a Roman Catholic Sister with the Sisters of Mercy. In her ten years of service to the order, Ann taught various art classes and developed art programs for many parochial schools. Fortunately, the Sisters of Mercy encouraged Ann to continue her own artistic development. She designed and executed several murals and other public works while creating a multitude of graphic designs for cards and calendars. After ten years of religious life, Ann left the order to become a wife and mother. Since that time she has received many private commissions for paintings and sculptures, including a four by six foot multi-media piece for a newly planned health center in Loredo, Texas.
Ann has exhibited her work in a two woman show at Fort Smith Art Center, Arkansas. She also had a show at the Jemez National Monument, New Mexico. The Jemez National Monument show was Ann’s first attempt at offering her art work in a commercial market. The results of sales from this show have been very promising. She is quite prolific and her work is always of high quality with a stron, warm feeling. The success of her future is assured. “I thing, basically, I tell stories with. Clay is simple, direct and ancient.Good ingredients for a story. It’s not really all that neat and worked out. Clay is forgiving and easy and it feels so good. I really just like it, says Ann.
(Click for Ann Graffy Clay Figures) |
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Bernadette Track |
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Bernadette Track's training has centered on theatre and dance, but like her mother and grandmother before her, the pull of the clay has been strong. Her pottery imparts a lesson in persistent striving, curiosity and artistic devotion. Bernadette's life is filled with love and respect for nature and humanity. Native American culture incorporates the rhythms of the earth, sun and life.
"Pottery is my art. I'm simply giving back what Mother Nature wants." In 1980, she began making pottery. Mary Witkop, a friend and local potter took her to her first clay pit, and Bernadette fell in love with clay. Indeed, experience guides Track in her knowledge of art.
In 1969, Bernadette attended a summer school of dance at Connecticut College, before taking advantage of a scholarship to Julliard. Bernadette stayed in New York through the early seventies. She came back to Taos Pueblo, electing to live in the traditional part of the pueblo that has no electricity and only river water. She modeled for R.C. Gorman and had a children's theatre. She went back to college to earn her BA in University Studies.
Bernadette now stands as one of the master potters at Taos Pueblo. She employs traditional firing and hand coiled methods. The firing process leaves a distinctive mark on the pottery in the form of 'cloud fire', mottled tones of black and grey that smudge the micaceous clay surface.
(Click for Bernadette Track Pottery) |
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Written by Bobbie Gonzales
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Thursday, 25 December 2008 19:51 |
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(Cruzita Calabaza) 1923 - 1999
Blue Corn was born in San Ildefonso Pueblo in 1923. She was named “Blue Corn” by Maria Martinez’s sister. She became famous for reviving San Illdefonso polychrome. This style of pottery had become a lost product after blackware of Maria Martinez came into demand in the 1920’s.
Although Blue Corn’s grandmother wanted her to quit school to become a potter, Blue Corn did not start making pottery until the 1950’s. At the age of 20, Blue Corn married Santiago “Sandy” Calabaza, and they settled in San Illdefonso, where they raised ten children.
In the late 1960’s, Blue Corn established herself as the leading potter in fine whiteware polychrome in San Illdefonso. Her husband, Sandy Calabaza, quit his job to help Blue Corn in carving, painting and designing her pots. They became well known for the cloud and feather patterns.
Her pottery can be found in the Smithsonian Institute, as well as other major museums in America and Europe. In 1981, she was given the New Mexico Governors Award, the greatest recognition of artistic achievement in New Mexico. In 2008, she was honored posthumously with the “2008 Lifetime Achievement Award” by SWIA.
(Click for Blue Corn Pottery)
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Last Updated on Friday, 30 January 2009 04:34 |
 As far back as Bob can remember he has been drawing and painting. When he was around ten a favorite Aunt took him to an exhibition of French Impressionists. This experience overwhelmed and propelled him into the life of an artist.
Bob graduated from the York Academy of Arts in 1970, but stopped painting for nearly ten years because of confusion engendered by the wildly divergent influences of his instructors. But, he says, he 'never stopped painting in my mind.' Bob's return to painting was triggered in 1983 when he moved to Texas, and saw the unique vistas of the Southwest. He loved the landscapes of stark simplicity and solitary beauty, but it was the qualities of the light and colors that inspired him most.
Bob lectures, demonstrates, teaches painting workshops, and is a signature member of the Knickerbocker Artists, USA.
His work can be found in numerous corporate and private collections internationally and is represented by galleries throughout the country.
(Click for Bob Rohm Paintings) |
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Artists