{"product_id":"22-0218-greg-garcia-santa-clara-with-bear-claws","title":"Santa Clara Pueblo Blackware Pottery by Greg Garcia with bear claws","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate 20th Century\u003cbr\u003e3.5x4.25w\u003cbr\u003eFrom a Private Colorado Collection\u003cbr\u003eExcellent Condition\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGreg Garcia was a talented traditional potter from Santa Clara Pueblo in New Mexico, bridging the artistic legacies of both Santa Clara and Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan Pueblo) through his mixed heritage. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e Born in 1961, he was the son of Lydia Tafoya from Santa Clara Pueblo and Santiago Garcia from Ohkay Owingeh, making him a full-blooded Native American artist with deep roots in Tewa traditions. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e At the age of 14, Greg began learning the craft under the guidance of his maternal grandmother, Severa Tafoya, a revered Santa Clara potter, who taught him the fundamentals of traditional pottery-making. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e He grew up alongside his sisters, fellow potters Tina Garcia (d. 2005) and Virginia Garcia (b. 1963), and was also the nephew of acclaimed potter Angela Baca, fostering a family environment rich in ceramic artistry. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGreg adhered strictly to ancestral techniques, gathering clay from sacred Santa Clara lands, hand-cleaning and mixing it, coiling vessels by hand, stone-polishing for a glossy sheen, and firing outdoors with horse manure to achieve the iconic black finish. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e His work often featured polished black jars, bowls, and double-shouldered forms with traditional motifs like bear paw impressions, reflecting the evolution from utilitarian wares to fine art while honoring his forebears. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e He occasionally collaborated with his sister Tina on pieces, and his pottery earned recognition at events like the Santa Fe Indian Market and Eight Northern Pueblos Arts \u0026amp; Crafts show. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e Greg signed his works \"Greg Garcia, San Juan\/Santa Clara,\" emphasizing his dual Pueblo heritage. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e He passed away in 2010, leaving a legacy of meticulously crafted pieces that connect modern viewers to ancient Tewa traditions through his family's enduring influence in Pueblo pottery. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45878106259621,"sku":"22-0218","price":595.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/s725348264778838518_p14976_i1_w1024.jpg?v=1757346531","url":"https:\/\/antiqueamericanindianart.com\/products\/22-0218-greg-garcia-santa-clara-with-bear-claws","provider":"Antique American Indian Art","version":"1.0","type":"link"}