C. Maurus Chino (1954-present) Kaiamiastiwa

C. Maurus Chino is of the Eagle/Sun Clan at Acoma Pueblo.  He was born in Albuquerque in 1954, attended the Grants (NM) High School and New Mexico State University.  His career has been as a forest firefighter, teacher, miner, illustrator, art consultant, full time painter and, when time permits, potter.

The artist explained his work “One of the main focuses of the paintings on my pottery is reverence for the land.  I always have respect for the land and its people.  I always think of the people before me, my grandfather and grandmother, whose influence helped me, as well as other artists who worked in clay, stone, and pigments.  All these materials are in my paintings.  The symbols of rain and lightning are reflected in the realistic paintings also.  I try to achieve a three-dimensional effect on my landscapes in pottery.”