Gilbert Olivas, Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan Pueblo) melon jar

Gilbert Olivas was born in 1958 into the Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan Pueblo). He began experimenting with clay at the age of 7. By the time he turned 29 years of age he had mastered all the fundamentals of using ancient traditional methods of working with natural clays and pigments. He was inspired to learn the art by working with Barbara Martinez from the Santa Clara Pueblo. She shared her special techniques of working with clay with Gilbert.

Gilbert specializes in the hand coiled black or red Santa Clara pottery. He mines his clay and other pigments from within the hills of the Santa Clara Pueblo. Then, he sifts the clay for impurities, mixes the clay with volcanic ash, hand coils, carves designs, polishes the pottery with a stone, and fires his pottery, outdoors, with horse manure. His designs include the water serpent (beginning of life), feathers (ablity to fly), and arrows (direction of life). He signs his pottery as: Olivas pottery, Gilbert Olivas, followed by the date when the pot was completed.