San Ildefonso / Tewa
Alice Martinez and her son, Ruben have formed a partnership
with pottery making. They are from the Pueblo of San Ildefonso/Tewa.
Alice is now in her seventies, and has been making pottery since she
was twenty years old. Alice was inspired to continue the long lived
tradition of hand coiling pottery from her parents, Richard and Lucy
Martinez.
Ruben learned the fundamentals of pottery making from his mother and
now they have joined forces and combined their efforts to make some
of the finest black on black pottery available today.
Over the last fifty years, Alice and Ruben have perfected the Tunyo
Polychrome mate on polished black style pottery that the Martinez family
from San Ildefonso had become famous for back in the early 1900’s.
They make pottery the traditional way; they gather the clay from sacred
grounds within the San Ildefonso Pueblo, clean the clay,hand coil, shape,
and fire the traditional way, outdoors, with horse manure.
Alice’s father, Richard Martinez was the adopted son of the famous
Maria Martinez.
Awards:
-Eight Northern Pueblos Exhibit
-Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies