Santa Clara Pueblo Bronze Bird Figurine [SOLD]

One of ten kids, Michael Naranjo, Santa Clara sculptor, was born in 1944, and is the son of Santa Clara potter Rose Naranjo, the Uncle of sculptor Roxanne Swentzell, and the brother of Jody Folwell and Rina Swentzell, who are also potters.

While he saw and learned all that the Northern New Mexico landscape had to offer in terms of nature and beauty as a boy growing up in Taos, Naranjo was rendered blind by a grenade in Vietnam in the late 1960s. The explosion also took away the use of his right hand. After attending a school for the blind in California, he began to live his life on his own, learning how to manage with his disability. Not be deterred, it was at that time that he began to try his hand at sculpting. It was difficult at first, but over time, his intuitiveness and his familiarity with his subject matter before he lost his sight helped him become a master sculptor. Naranjo is remarkable because, while he can’t see the ends of traditional sculpting tools, he is able to use his fingernails to fashion the clay of his pieces.

This bronze piece, likely depicting a heron with cocked head and spread wings, is beautiful. While very simply detailed, the bird’s face has a very noble expression. The sculpture is edition #7 of 12 and is signed “Naranjo” on the back.

Condition: The sculpture is in excellent original condition.

Provenance: Estate of Evelyn and Herbert Weinstein, Santa Fe

Note: an out-of-print copy of the book: Michael Naranjo: the story of an American Indian by Mary Carroll Nelson is included with the purchases of this sculpture. Click on the Recommended Reading link above to see all the details.