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 LOIS
& DEREK DE LA CRUZ-Santa Clara Potters
Lois
and Derek make some of the most interesting pottery done in any
pueblo today. They make exclusively polychrome jars (generally large)
that frequently depict various aspects of traditional Pueblo life.
Using many colors, Lois does "paintings" on her pots of
Pueblo dances, scenes of everyday life, and occasionally wildlife.
Lois does thepotting and painting of the pots and Derek (who is
Hispanic) helps with the firing which is always done outdoors. It
is also Derek who explores the Espanola Valley looking for minerals
used to make the many colors of paints that give their pots their
distinctive look. In 1984, Lois and Derek won the BEST OF SHOW award
at Santa Fe Indian Market. The resulting frenzied demand for their
pottery so appalled them that they have never done another show.
They maintain a very low profile living a very traditional pueblo
life. Lois is the daughter of the late Santa Clara potter Petra
Gutierrez and the sister of well known potters Goldenrod (Gloria
Garcia), Minnie Vigil and Thelma Talachy.
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