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Barbara Gonzales
San Ildefonso Pueblo
Barbara Gonzales (Tahn Moo Whe - Sunbeam) was born in 1947. She was the daughter of Anita Martinez and eldest granddaughter of Adam and Santana Martinez, eldest great-granddaughter of Maria Martinez. Her sister is Kathy Sanchez, her son Cavan Gonzales.
Barbara grew up learning to make pottery with her family during the development of San Ildefonso blackware. However, she is known for intricately carved red, sienna, black and polychrome bowls and seed pots, sometimes with inlaid pieces of coral and turquoise but always with the "good luck spider" motif which she began developing in 1973.
In her words: "Whenever an Indian gets involved with art, they do it with their whole being - that's what makes the art unique." The sgraffito spider and spiderweb work she does have become her trademark.
Barbara signs most of her pieces "Tahn Moo Whe" but I have seen some signed "Sunbeam."
Red plate with sgraffito floral design and inlaid turquoise and coral
2.25 in H by 10.75 in Dia
Polished black jar with sienna spots, sgraffito medallion and geometric design and inlaid coral and turquoise
4.5 in H by 5.5 in Dia
Black seedpot with sienna spots decorated with sgraffito spider web, avanyu and geometric designs plus inlaid coral and turquoise
1.75 in H by 2.75 in Dia
Black jar with inlaid stones and sgraffito feather and spider designs
6 in H by 5.75 in Dia
Sienna rim on a black jar decorated with sgraffito spider design and inlaid stones
1.25 in H by 2.75 in Dia
Black jar with sienna spots and inlaid stones decorated with a sgraffito feather and avanyu design
2.5 in H by 4 in Dia
2.25 in H by 5 in Dia
A sgraffito spider, spider web, flower, avanyu and geometric design on a black seed pot with a sienna spot and inlaid stones
2 in H by 2.75 in Dia
A red jar decorated with sgraffito avanyu design
1.75 in H by 4 in Dia
Black jar with sienna spots and inlaid stones decorated with a sgraffito spider, butterfly and geometric design
5.75 in H by 8.75 in Dia