Male Storyteller with 8 Children by Ada Suina [SOLD]

Ada Suina has always been recognized as one of the premier storyteller figurine potters. Her male figurines, such as this one, have a strong, chiseled face, and the children have happy carefree expressions. She still uses all natural materials and fires the figurines outdoors in the traditional manner.

Ada has just recently resumed making pottery figurines following the death of her husband three years ago. She relied so much on his help in digging the clay and working it to a point where she could form the figurines. Now she has to do everything by herself, therefore it is taking significantly more time to complete a piece.

She said that she thought this would be her last year for entering Indian Market because she just couldn’t finish enough pottery for the event. Also, she said that the vein of white clay used for the Cochiti slip has run out and none of the potters at Cochiti could find another vein. Several potters have expressed concern that they might have to stop making pottery unless a source for the white clay can be found.

It is always sad to see an accomplished artisan slow down or stop entirely something they have done most of their adult life but it is inevitable. It is also sad to think that pottery at Cochiti Pueblo may come to a halt because of the shortage of white slip.