Santa Clara Pueblo
Karen Naranjo-Samaniego is a full blooded Native
American Indian. She was born into the Navajo Reservation in 1967.
Karen began creating Santa Clara pottery at the age of 19.
Karen attended Brigham Young University and decided to take a break
from college for the summer and visit her father, Wilson Price, Jr.,
in Santa Fe, N.M. During her visit, she met Forrest Naranjo and fell
madly in love with him and they eventually married.
Bernice Suazo-Naranjo (ex mother-in-law) taught Karen & Forrest
the fundamentals of working with clay. Continuing long lived traditions
is extremely important to Karen.
She stated “I practice my skills as a potter, because a part of
myself goes into every piece of art which I create. Thus, I am adding
to the long lived legacy of my ancestors.”
Karen gathers her clay from the Santa Clara Pueblo. She breaks the clumps
of clay to a fine powder form and mixes clay with other natural pigments.
Karen hand forms and hand polishes every piece she makes. She also fires
her pottery the traditional way, outdoors. Mother Earth provides her
with all the ingredients to allow her to make her own art.
Karen signs her pottery as: Karen Naranjo Samaniego.
Publications:
-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni
-Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies
-Collections of Southwestern Pottery
Awards:
-New Mexico State Fair
-Santa Fe Indian Market
-Pueblo Grand, Phoenix, AZ
-Haskel Indian Market, Lawrence, KS