Super Bowl 2020 Mystery Pot Maker, Cavan Gonzales

Cavan Gonzales, pictured above in 2009 in Santa Fe, NM, is the great-great-grandson of Maria and Julian Martinez. Maria was asked in the early 1900s to recreate prehistoric pottery that had been unearthed in an excavation in their pueblo. The black-on-black pottery, that pueblo San Idelfonso is known for, was the result of her efforts.

His mother, Barbara Gonzales, was the eldest great-grandchild of Maria and Julian. Working alongside Maria and her grandmother, Santana, Barbara learned the traditions of San Idelfonso Pueblo Pottery. She became a well-respected potter in her own right, introducing inlaid turquoise in her work and her unique spider design.

Born into this long lineage of accomplished, traditional pueblo potters in 1970, Cavan Gonzales has added his unique 21st-century interpretation. He has been a leader in the revival of San Idelfonso polychrome pottery. This technique involves the application of three or more layers of colored slip to create designs. Cavan's fine graphic arts skills have been applied to creating new designs inspired not only from the past but also the present by adding elements of technology such as solar energy.

He has been winning awards since the age of five. His work is collected all over the world, including works in the Kennedy Center in Washington DC and the New Mexico State Capital.

Cavan's large bowls with finely crafted motifs are made by the traditional methods his family has been using for centuries. Cavan Gonzales and many of his extended family members are continuing the family tradition of excellence and passion for the art of pottery.

https://www.newmexico.org/nmmagazine/articles/post/art-nm-98168/

February 4, 2020 | View: 1671 | Categories: Mystery Pot | Tags: Clay, Handmade Pots, Favorite Pots, Mystery Pot, ceramic legend, ceramic artist | By: Bailey Pottery