Working Ancient Themes into New Combinations: A Tribute to Lucy M. Lewis, Acoma Potter from the James P. and Dorothy S. Barufaldi Collection of Native American Pottery
March 12 – September 12, 2022
Lucy M. Lewis (ca. 1895 – 1992)
Lucy Martin Lewis was born at Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico, around 1895 to parents Lola Santiago and Martin Ortiz.
She began making pottery at the turn of the century, mainly teaching herself by observing her great aunt Helice Vallo. Lucy received many accolades and awards for her pottery and became known as one of Acoma’s leading “matriarch” potters. She is known for working ancient themes and patterns she observed from ancient Ancestral Pueblo and Mimbres pottery sherds into new combinations on her pottery which she continued to make until her passing on March 12, 1992, at age 93. Four of Lucy’s daughters and a granddaughter also become renowned potters in their own rights.
Over the years, Lucy Lewis pottery has been collected and displayed by museums the world over. Her artwork is also prized by private collectors such as James P. and Dorothy S. Barufaldi, whose collection makes up the entirety of this exhibition which also includes some pieces made by Lucy’s relatives and descendants.
Pop-Up Photography Exhibit (photographs from Wayne Suggs and Pueblo Ceramicwares)
May 25, 2022 - November 30, 2022
This exhibit showcases art images of Jornada Mogollon Petroglyphs (rock art) taken by award-winning Las Cruces native photographer, Wayne Suggs. His photographs display his captivation with rock art and surrounding landscape as a way to emphasize the preservation of the rocks and the landscape.
In addition to the photographs by Wayne Suggs, the exhibition also features ceramic displays which are part of a generous donation by Lisa M. Pugh of Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Two displays of Pueblo ceramicwares include:
- Micaceous pots from Taos and Picuris Pueblos in New Mexico that follow a tradition dated to the 1300s which gave pottery a unique finish by mica fragments included in the natural clay.
- Potsuwii’I Revival pots from San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico created by a group of seven women in the 1930s who decided to bring back their ancestral pottery and design and ignited a resurrection of the ceramic making tradition in the San Juan pueblo. A few of the showcased pieces were made by one of the original potters; Tomasita Montoya in the 1950s to 1960s.