Emily Beeber and Julia Hamer-Light
The artists in this section use clay to connect with individuals and traditions beyond
their family lineages. As explored nearby in Family Ties, knowledge of how to dig,
shape, and fire clay usually passes through the matrilineal line. However, pottery
practices ground other relationships with partners and mentors across space and time.
Working together, many Pueblo artists study the forms and imagery of pots made by
their ancestors for inspiration. Some makers, like Jodie and Susan Folwell (Kha'p'o
Owingeh (Santa Clara Pueblo)), also incorporate visual traditions from outside of the
Pueblos into their work. Others, like Ida Sahmie (Diné Bikéyah (Navajo Nation)), come
from other Indigenous nations and create uniquely transcultural pieces. Look closely at
these vessels to see the many hands and histories that have shaped them
