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The Vail Family
Navajo

The Vail Family is well known for their contemporary style of pottery known as “horse hair”. Tom Vail married into the Navajo Nation. He, along with his children William “Skeeter” Vail, Loveitha Vail-Sanchez, and their spouses Geraldine Vail and Ray Sanchez produce this style of pottery. Tom was born in 1933. Skeeter was born in 1961, his wife, Gerie, was born in 1960, and Loveitha was born in 1967.

They pour a ceramic white slip substance into a mold and it foms itself into whatever shape of pot that they decide on making. Then, they pour out the excess slip and let it set to dry. The ceramicware is then cleaned and polished. They heat up the ceramicware in a kiln and then randomly toss authentic hair taken from the mane (thin lines) or the tail (thick lines) of a horse on the heated pottery. The resulting carbon being drawn into the surface of the pot creates the wonderful designs and patterns. Finally, they clean the finished pottery with a dry material and the finished product is a unique marblized flare styled pot. This process of art is very hazardous and time consuming. When asked why they do this they all agreed and replied “We enjoy not knowing what designs will form on the pot itself after the horse hair has burned into the pot.” They sign their pottery as: Skeeter & Gerie Vail, Vail, and Loveitha Vail-Sanchez.

Adrian Vallo
Acoma

Adrian Vallo was born to the Pueblo of the Acoma in 1964. He began his interest in pottery making when he was 20 years old, back in 1985. Mr. Vallo was inspired to make hand coiled pottery by his Grandmother, the late Santana Cerno, who taught Adrian to coil, shape, paint, and fire pottery.

Adrian specializes in the hand coiled traditional style shaped pots and designs. He gathers natural pigments from the Acoma Pueblo to make his pottery. He cleans, mixes, hand coils, shapes, paints, and fires his pottery the traditional way, outdoors. He paints traditional designs, deer patterns, and parrot motifs with natural pigments He was quoted as saying: “They are more challenging to create and I enjoy the challenge.” Adrian signs his art as: A.Vallo, Acoma .

Adrian is related to the following artists: The late Santana Cerno, Eva Histia (grandmothers), The famous Joseph & Barbara Cerno (uncle & aunt), and Ergil Vallo (cousin).

Awards:

-1992 New Mexico State Fair 2nd place
-1994 Arizona Casa Grande 3rd place

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Ergil F. Vallo, Sr.
Acoma/ Hopi

Ergil F. Vallo, Sr., “Dalawepi”, which means “Colors Of The rainbow”, was born in 1959. Ergil is half Acoma and half Hopi. Ergil was 21 years of age when he began creating his art work. Ergil has been working with pottery since 1990. He was inspired to continue the family tradition of crafting art by observing many of his family members create their art. He wanted be an active participant and add to the legacy of a long lived tradition.

Ergil primarily specializes in the incised black pottery. He uses natural pollens and minerals to get the contrast in the brilliant colors on his designs which include: hopi kachinas, mimbres animals, kiva steps, and geometric designs.

Ergil signs his pottery as: Dalawepi, Acoma/Hopi, but in the past he signed it as Ergil Vallo, Acoma/Hopi.

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies
-Hopi-Tewa Pottery 500 Artist Biographies
-Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni
-Collections of Southwestern Pottery
-Miniature Arts of the Southwest

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) place ribbons various years
-Gallup Indian Ceremonial 2nd place in 1994
-Laguna March Show 1st place

Jeanette Vallo
Acoma

Jeanette Vallo, “Nah-Sde-Te”, known as “Jay”, is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born into the Acoma Pueblo in 1959. She was inspired to continue the long lived tradition of working with pottery by observing her grandmother, Lita Garcia, at a very young age. She comes from a family of talented and creative pottery makers and painters. The lucrative aspect was also inspiration for Jay to become an artist. Jay is a natural gifted painter and with this in her blood she began painting many patterns at the age of 18.

Jay specializes in hand painting ceramic pottery. She hand paints eye dazzling starburst and fine line patterns on wedding vases and other shapes of pottery. Jay was taught the traditional methods of hand coiling pottery using ancient traditional methods from her family members. However, she really enjoys the hand painting side of working with the pottery. She signs her pottery as Jay Vallo, Acoma . Jay is related to the following artists: Brian Chino (brother), Corrine Chino (sister), Germaine Reed (sister), and Edna Chino (mother).

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Awards:

- New Mexico State Fair 1st Place
- New Mexico State Fair 2nd Place 1995
- New Mexico State Fair 3rd Place

Kim Vallo
Acoma

Kim Vallo is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born in 1968 into the Acoma Pueblo. Kim is a member of the Red Corn Clan and the Small Oak Clan. She grew up in Grants, N.M. Her inspiration for continuing a long lived tradition comes from many different sources. However, her immediate family is where her encouragement to learn to paint comes from. The lucrative aspect of the business also was inspiration for her to become an artist. While attending school she would often catch herself drawing lines on paper.

Kim specializes hand painting ceramic pottery. She hand paints fine line, feather, and starburst patterns on a wide variety of shaped pots like wedding vases, water jugs, olla’s, and traditional shapes. She has recently sparked an interest in hand coiling traditional pottery. She is currently in the early stages of becoming a traditional hand coiling artist. She is currently working mainly with miniature pottery. However, Kim feels she needs more practice with hand coiling pottery the way of her ancesstors. She signs her pottery as: Kim Vallo, Acoma , N.M. Kim is related to Leland Vallo, Thomas Vallo (brothers), and the late Simon & Marie Vallo (parents).

Awards:

-None to date

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Leland Robert Vallo
Acoma

Leland Robert Vallo “Pinion Mesa”, is a full blooded Native American Indian, who was born in 1969 into the Acoma Pueblo. He was inspired by many famous artists, like Dorothy Torivio, to continue the long lived tradition of hand coiling pottery using ancient methods. He began making pottery in 1991.

Leland specializes in the hand coiled Tularosa Swirl pattern pottery. He gathers his clay from grounds within the Acoma Pueblo along with other natural pigments. He cleans his clay, mixes, hand coils, shapes, paints, and fires his pottery, outdoors. He hand coils many different shapes and sizes of pottery like seed pots, wedding vases, and bowls. He also paints animals, mimbres designs, and incorporates Kiva step patterns into his designs. He also paints on ceramic ware from time to time. Leland states that he is still amazed at the quality of the artwork that Native Americans produce today. However, his biggest inspiration thrives from memories that he has from his mother who is no longer with him and his best friend, the late Marie Vallo. He signs his pottery as: L. Vallo, Acoma , N.M.

Awards:

-1996 New Mexico State Fair 1st Place
-1997 New Mexico State Fair 2nd Place
-1998 New Mexico State Fair 3rd Place

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Nathaniel Vallo
Acoma

Nathaniel Vallo is a full blooded Native American Indian. He was born into the Pueblo of Acoma in 1965. He was inspired by all of his family members to carry on the tradition of crafting pottery. He has been creating his intricate work since 1985. Working with art has always come naturally to Nathaniel. He has always had a creative mind and has established himself as a fine artisan with his unique techniques and styles.

Nathaniel specializes in the hand etched ceramic pottery featuring Kokopelli, geometric designs, mimbres designs, animals, and kachina dancers with intricate pueblo backgrounds. Every pot he etches is different, there are no 2 alike. He applies the paint to his pottery and then he begins etching his intricate masterpieces by hand. Nathaniel said, “A vision of ancestry comes to mind in every piece of pottery that I etch.” Nathaniel pours his heart into his precise intricate art work and is very proud of his accomplishments. According to Nathaniel, working with his style of art is very relaxing and completes his day. He signs his work as: N.Vallo, Acoma , NM .

Nathaniel is related to the following artists: Frederica Antonio, Melissa Antonio (sisters), Clara Santiago (aunt), Felix Poncho (uncle), and the late Rose Poncho (grandmother).

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair 2nd & 3rd place
-Various arts and crafts shows

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Greg P. Victorino
Acoma

Greg P. Victorino is a full blooded Native American Indian. He was born into the Acoma Pueblo in 1960. Greg was inspired to learn the art of painting on ceramic pottery by watching others. However, what has made his art so uniquely wonderful is his imaginative designs which awe and amaze the average collector. In addition, the lucrative aspects of the business have played a key roll in motivating him to paint. Greg has been painting on ceramic pottery since he was 12 years old. He would observe other family members and this sparked an interest in learning an art.

Greg specializes in painting geometric eye dazzling designs on several shapes and sizes of ceramic pots. Greg measures each of his patterns as he paints. He uses only the black and white colors to paint his intricate geometrical puzzle patterns, which he is well known for. Greg signs his pottery as: Greg Victorino, Acoma , NM .

Greg is related to the famous Sandra Victorino (sister-in-law).

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Sandra Victorino
Acoma

Sandra Victorino is a full blooded Native American Indian born into the Pueblo of the Acoma in 1958. She was inspired to learn the art of hand coiling pottery from admiring her famous Aunt, Dorothy Torivio, who is one of Acoma ’s finest potter’s still alive today. Sandra strongly believes that traditional ways must be kept alive to continue the long lived legacy of her people.

Sandra gathers the clay from within the sacred grounds in Acoma . She was taught how to sift clay, hand coil pottery, paint with a yucca plant, and fire pottery. Sandra specializes in hand coiled pottery with spiral designs like the step to step, checker board, snowflake, half snowflake, and fine line designs. She will also paint Kokopelli on her pottery from time to time. Sandra signs her pottery as: Sandra Victorino, Acoma , NM .

Sandra is related to the following artists: Edna Chino (mother), Brian Chino (brother), Greg Victorino (brother-in-law), and the famous Dorothy Torivio (aunt).

Awards:

-1999 Santa Fe Indian Market 2nd Place
-1993 Gallup Indian Ceremonials
-1994 New Mexico State Fair 1st place
-1996 Santa Fe Market 1st place
-1997 Eighth Northern Shows 1st place
-Other awards numerous to list

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies
-Art of Clay

Georgia Vigil-Toya
Jemez

Georgia Vigil-Toya, member of the Coyote Clan, is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born in 1966 into the Jemez Pueblo. Georgia was inspired to continue the long lived tradition of hand coiling pottery and using ancient traditional methods from her grandmother, Reyes S. Toya. Reyes taught Georgia all the fundamentals of working with clay and shared with Georgia her special techniques in the process. She began working with clay in 1984. The lucrative aspect of the business was also inspiration for Georgia to become an artist.

Georgia specializes in hand coiled, hand polished, and hand etched pottery. She gathers her clay and other natural pigments from the hills within the Jemez Pueblo. Then, she breaks up the clumps of clay and soaks it for a few days to make it easier to work with. She turns the clumps into a fine sand like form and mixes with water and other natural pigments. Then, Georgia begins hand coiling her pottery. The pottery is set out to dry and is sanded to smooth out the roughness of the masterpiece. Georgia hand etches mimbres designs and many different styles of animals on her pottery. She fires her pottery the traditional way, outdoors, with cedar wood chips. She continues to use designs which her mother and grandmother are credited with. She hand coils many different shapes and sizes of pottery. Georgia is related to the following artists: Lorraine Chinana, Ida Yepa (sisters), and Clara Gachupin (aunt). She signs her pottery as: Georgia Vigil-Toya, Jemez Pueblo.

Awards:

-New Mexico State Fair 2nd Place
-Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial Merit Award

Publications:

-Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies

Jocelyn “Honani” Vote
Hopi

Jocelyn “Honani” Vote “Kocha Hon Mana” (White Bear Girl), member of the Water Clan and Bear Clan, was born in Yuma Arizona in 1962 into the Hopi Nation. The Continuance of ancient traditions of her people are extremely important to her, being that she is a teacher by profession. This is a very enjoyable hobby for her to relax with.

Jocelyn is the only one of a handful of female artist hand carving Kachina Dolls to date. She specializes in hand carved Hopi Kachina Dolls carved out of cottonwood root. She began her curiosity at the age of 7, being inspired by her late Uncle Hubert Honani, who also was a very talented Hopi Kachina carver. Her Kachinas have become highly detailed since the age of 19 when she began carving them. There are over 300 known kachinas from the Hopi Reservation alone. Kachinas are believed to be the spiritual guardians of the Indian way of life, and they are also used in certain religious ceremonies. It is extremely important that you don’t offend kachinas. When carving a kachina you must represent them very accurately. Jocelyn signs her work as: Kocha Hon Mana, which is her Hopi Indian name, followed by a bear paw to denote her Clan origin.

Jocelyn is related to: Aaron & Ernest Honani, who are her cousins, and also to the late Hubert Honani (uncle).

Awards:

-1996 Gallup Intertribal 3rd Place
-1996 New Mexico State Fair 3rd Place
-1997 New Mexico State Fair 3rd Place
-1998 New Mexico State Fair 2nd Place

Publications:

-August 1998 Featured artist on internet