Joseph Lonewolf (January 26, 1932 – November 9, 2014) was a Native American potter from

Santa Clara Pueblo Santa Clara Pueblo (in Tewa: Khaʼpʼoe Ówîngeh ɑ̀ʔp’òː ʔówîŋgè ″Singing Water Village″, also known as ″Village of Wild Roses″ is a census-designated place (CDP) in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States and a federa ...

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ke ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

. He was known for his use of historical methods and his development of

sgraffito ''Sgraffito'' (; plural: ''sgraffiti'') is a technique either of wall decor, produced by applying layers of plaster tinted in contrasting colours to a moistened surface, or in pottery, by applying to an unfired ceramic body two successive laye ...

and

bas-relief Relief is a sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces are bonded to a solid background of the same material. The term '' relief'' is from the Latin verb ''relevo'', to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is to give the impression that th ...

techniques used a nail filed to a point as his main carving tool. The son of pottery artist and historical reconstructionist Camilio Sunflower Tafoya, Lonewolf was a precision

mining Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the Earth, usually from an ore body, lode, vein, seam, reef, or placer deposit. The exploitation of these deposits for raw material is based on the economic ...

equipment machinist until 1971, when a back injury forced him to retire. His works, which have often been referred to as "pottery jewels", are notable for the use of Mimbres designs on

sienna Sienna (from it, terra di Siena, meaning "Siena earth") is an earth pigment containing iron oxide and manganese oxide. In its natural state, it is yellowish brown and is called raw sienna. When heated, it becomes a reddish brown and is call ...

miniatures. His Designs are often reflect geometrical animal forms, He said "Each pot had a meaning but most are about nature".

Clay

When Joseph and his family go out to gather clay they do it with the utmost respect. Before the clay can be taken from Mother Earth they must say a prayer asking to take the clay and tell the clay mother that they are going to take her and make her into a beautiful pot. The clay is brought home and water is added to turn the clay to a liquid form known as slip. The slip is then strained through a screen to take out any rocks or roots and then the clay can be dried wedged up to be used.

Firing

After the wear had been carved away the piece is allowed to dry to a bone dry state and it is time be fired. Four tin cans are set up and a metal basket is placed on them to allow for good air flow. The pots are then placed in the basket and a fire is built under the basket. Planks of bark are leaned agents the stack in a tepee form and the whole pile is lit on fire. After the bon fire burns down, for an amount of time that is learned from years of experience, horse manure is shoved on to smother the flame and create a reduction atmosphere in the firing. The reduction causes the wear to turn black in color giving this work a particular look. "We do not talk about a pot until it is complete, If we do it will brake in the firing" Lonewolf's work was explored in a series on American Indian artists for the

Public Broadcasting System The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...

(PBS). Other artists in the series included R. C. Gorman, Helen Hardin,

Allan Houser Allan Capron Houser or Haozous (June 30, 1914 – August 22, 1994) was a Chiricahua Apache sculptor, painter and book illustrator born in Oklahoma.Charles Loloma Charles Sequevya Loloma (January 7, 1921 — June 9, 1991) was an American artist of indigenous Hopi descent. He was a highly influential Native American jeweler during the 20th century. He popularized use of gold and gemstones not previously use ...

, and

Fritz Scholder Fritz William Scholder V (October 6, 1937 – February 10, 2005) was a Native American artist. Scholder was an enrolled member of the La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians, a federally recognized tribe of Luiseños, a California Mission tribe. Schold ...

.Steven Leuthold
"13: Native American Art and Artists in Visual Arts Documentaries from 1973 to 1991,"
in On the Margins of Art Worlds, ed. Larry Gross. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1995, 268.

References

External links

More information about Joseph Lonewolf
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lonewolf, Joseph 1932 births 2014 deaths Santa Clara Pueblo people Native American potters Artists from New Mexico Pueblo artists 20th-century Native Americans 21st-century Native Americans