Pot

Joseph Latoma of San Felipe Pueblo is a largely self-taught potter who learned much about the traditional production and decoration of ceramics by interviewing community elders. Also a silversmith, Latoma began creating pottery in 1989 and utilizes local clay to construct his pots through a hand-coiling technique. He is especially known for his polychrome designs based on traditional motifs he learned about by conducting oral histories with the elders. There is little publicly recorded information about San Felipe pottery since the San Felipe Pueblo community does not allow the recording or representation of certain activities and ceremonies. There are also relatively few historic examples of San Felipe Pueblo pottery, in contrast to other Pueblo pottery traditions. Latoma is involved in revitalizing San Felipe pottery through research, instruction and creation. Latoma has also taught his wife and children to make pottery. It is not unusual in Southwestern pottery traditions for a family to work together. His wife, Nona Latoma, often collaborates with him and they produced this pot together.