JULY 20, 1980

UEBLO POTTER PO’VE’KA (MARIA MONTOYA MARTINEZ) DIED

Born in the San Ildefonso Pueblo, near Santa Fe, New Mexico (NM), Maria’s Tewa name meant “Water Lily.” At age 11, she learned pottery making by watching her aunt.”  In 1908, Edgar Lee Hewett of the Museum of NM chose Maria to re-create traditional black-on-white biscuit ware in order to preserve the ancient art form. From the Tafoya family of Santa Clara Pueblo, she learned how to make the clay turn color by smothering the fire. In 1918, she and husband Julian Martinez developed their own art–he decorated her matte-background pots with patterns from ancient Pueblo vessels. Her works, both with Julian and solo, won awards and appeared at world fairs. In 1973, Maria received a National Endowment for the Arts grant and, in 1978, she had a solo exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution. Her works are in over 20 museums including: the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; and the Smithsonian’s National Museums of the American Indian and of American Art. Martinez died in the San Ildefonso Pueblo.

Sources:

“Maria Martinez,” Smithsonian American Art Museum.  Retrieved 11/18/2023, Maria Martinez | Smithsonian American Art Museum (si.edu)

“Maria Montoya Martinez,” Nuclear Museum.  Retrieved 11/18/2023, Maria Montoya Martinez - Nuclear Museum

“Maria Martinez,” Four Winds Gallery.  Retrieved 11/18/2023, Maria Martinez - Four Winds Gallery

Wikipedia

Photo:  Wesley Bradfield, 1925. Public Domain.