1. The Pottery of
Margaret Tafoya
By: Rachel Feasler and Victoria McKee

2. Historical Information
• Born on August 13, 1904 and died on
February 25, 2001
• She was the matriarchal of Santa Clara
Pueblo potters.
• Learned how to make pottery from her
mother, Sara
• Margaret’s husband, Alcario, helped her
make her creations.
• Margaret has won awards for her pottery
including:

3. Social & Contextual
Information
• By the 1970’s Margaret’s pottery was in
high demand, yet she continued to sell
pieces from her home at the pueblo.
• Tafoya’s art encompassed her cultural and
religious beliefs.
• The myths and legends of the Santa Clara
Pueblo can be seen in the shape and
symbols of Margaret’s pottery.
• Her trademark were large, black, polished
jars decorated with the traditional imagery
of bear claws, water serpents, and rain

4. Symbols
Water Serpent
 “Avanyu”
 Symbolizes the
importance of water
to indigenous desert
cultures
 The lightening
symbol is used as the
serpents tongue to
signify the storm
coming that brings in

5. More Symbols
Bear Claw
 Pueblo people
respected and looked
in awe toward grizzly
bears.
 Thought of bears as
gods
 Bears were the
center of Indian
legends and many
stories

6. Symbols Cont…
 Grizzly bears were
feared but were still
hunted in some
cases for the need
of food.
 Bear claws were
made into
necklaces as well.
(this was known to
bring protection and
good health to

7. The Wedding Jar
• The wedding jar has
an easily recognized
shaped bowl with two
spouts connected by
a strap handle.
• The wider of the two
spouts was
traditionally reserved
for drinking by the
groom.
• Today’s firing process
makes them suitable

8. The Clay
• The white
pieces of clay
have not yet
been polished.
• They are the
natural color of
the native clay
when it is dry.
•Alcario, Margare
t's
husband, would

9. Noticings
What we see:
• Shiny- all look like they have a special glaze on them
• Black and brown (a few white pieces in pictures)
• Most are very large
• Unique shapes
• Some pots very small
• Each has at least one Pueblo symbol
• Some symbols are hidden among the other symbols
• Margaret is wearing the same necklace in most of her
pictures
• The walls of the exhibit are made of dirt

10. Noticings continued…
What we hear/smell: What we feel:
• Hear nothing; very • Calm
quiet • The rough texture of
• Only noises are us the walls
talking • Cool temperature of
• Peaceful the room
• Smells like dirt

11. Questions we have…
• Who came up with the symbols used on the
pots?
• Who started the Pueblo pots?
• How do they get to be so shiny?
• How long is the entire process to make one
pot?
• Can you buy these pots? How much would it
cost to buy one of them?
• Are making the pots difficult?
• What techniques are used?
• Why was this exhibit chosen to come to the
museum?

12. Personal Connections
Victoria Rachel
• Taken art classes • Taken an
in high school and art/pottery class in
made pottery. high school as
• One piece in well.
particular that • Not very artistically
larger and covered inclined so I really
in what looks like can appreciate the
the same art when someone
substance. is very skilled at
• Previous visit with pottery.

13. Curricular Connections
• The previous visit to the Erie Art Museum
and the tour where we listened to the
history & learned about Margaret and the
Pueblo people.
• Exhibits just like this one have traveled to
museums all over.
• This is not only art, but can be a
beautiful, functional piece.

14. Possible Lines of Inquiry
• Aesthetic: How does Margaret Tafoya use
color, texture, shape, and proportion to
create the pottery?
• Pedagogical: How does Margaret Tafoya’s
pottery change our perception of the

15. Key Ideas
• Combining nature and manmade
materials
• The significance of the symbols
• How are pots all made so similar?

16. Lines of Inquiry
• Aesthetic:
– How can we tell what the pot is for based on
the shape of it?
• Pedagogical:
– How can we communicate through art instead
of words?

17. Experiential Activity Ideas
• Create pots of out clay and
incorporate the important
symbols of the Pueblo
people.
• Paint, on paper bags to
make it fun, the symbols of
Margaret Tafoya.
• Field trip: to the Erie Art
Museum, or other Museum
with visiting exhibit, to see
the pottery firsthand.
• Read a children’s story to
help teach the students

18. Mind Map
Reflection
Questioning
Margaret
Tafoya Noticing
Pottery Hear, S
ee, Sm
ell, Fee
Activities l

19. References
• Erie Art Museum- Information posted
around the exhibit