Lorraine Chinana, Jemez Pueblo wedding vase

Lorraine Chinana was born to Albert and Marie (Toya) Vigil of Jemez Pueblo in November 1955. She learned the traditional methods of making pottery from her grandmother, Reyes S. Toya, and began actively producing in 1981. Her pieces are often experimental and she is somewhat unique at Jemez for her use of blue slips. She also likes to make redware and grayware wide mouth vases, oval vases, bowls, jars and seedpots, decorated with sgraffito and polychrome designs. Her favorite designs include rain and feather patterns, cloud patterns, hummingbirds, flowers and Jemez geometrics.

Over the years Lorraine has participated in shows like the SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market. At the Santa Fe show she has earned 1st, 2nd, 3rd Place and Honorable Mention ribbons for her work. At the Heard show she has earned an Honorable Mention.

Lorraine tells us she gets her inspiration mostly from her family, especially from her grandmother. Lorraine and Reyes have also taught Lorraine's daughter Angela. She is now known for producing contemporary pottery with red and blue-gray slips and decorated with sgraffito designs.