Echoes of Ko-tyit: Preserving Oral Tradition Through Cochiti Storytellers

In this growing exhibition of over 150 storyteller figurines, one private collector's lifelong dedication to acquiring these works will captivate you and spark your curiosity about the art form. The storyteller concept was created by artist Helen Cordero in 1964 as a tribute to her grandfather. Featuring pieces crafted by numerous artists, this collection holds deep cultural significance for the community. The figurines serve as symbols of oral tradition, family ties, and the intergenerational transmission of tribal history and the Keres language-spoken by the people of Cochiti Pueblo, Ko-tyit. These iconic clay sculptures often depict an elder with an open mouth surrounded by children, symbolizing the sacred passing of stories and native language from one generation to the next. We will continue to add storyteller figurines daily, so check back for more! 

Reclaiming A Language 

Cochiti Pueblo, Ko-tyit, is an area in northern New Mexico whose native language, Keres, is an unwritten language isolate, where spoken stories are vital to keeping tribal history, values, and customs alive. Because Keres is preserved strictly through oral tradition rather than text, community members pass down essential knowledge, cultural identity, and spiritual teachings intergenerationally by word of mouth. Language learning relies heavily on direct human interaction, intergenerational relationships, and community life rather than textbooks. 

Featured Highlight: Stephanie Rhoades, Snowflake Flower (1931-2018)

Born in 1931 at Cochiti Pueblo, Ko-tyit, Stephanie C. Rhoades is an award-winning potter celebrated for her traditional storytellers, clay sculptures, and animal figurines. Sister to famous potter Ada Suina, she learned the foundations of pottery-making from her mother, Berina Cordero, and was inspired by her grandmother, Estephanita Herrera.

Provenance and Significance 

These artworks come from one client at Adobe Gallery. Her lifelong collection of Cochiti Pueblo, Ko-tyit storytellers serves as an educational tool; offering every viewer a meaningful connection to Pueblo history, culture, and oral tradition.

Reference: CLAY MIRROR From Monos to Storytellers: Reflections from Cochiti Pueblo