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An oral tradition:
The Taos Indian language, Tiwa, has never been and will never be put into writing as their tradition dictates. Thus the Story Tellers are of great importance and stature in transmitting their history and culture.
Here are some wonderful clay figures by Juanita Martinez (her Christian name...many Indians have native and Christian names). She uses subtle natural colors of earth tones and prefers the more primitive style that characterized the first storytellers. She makes very small, miniature storytellers and puts many children on and around them. They are often grandfather storytellers in honor of her own grandfather who was a storyteller. Juanita learned to make pottery by watching her mother who also worked in clay.
Here are some wonderful clay figures by Juanita Martinez (her Christian name...many Indians have native and Christian names). She uses subtle natural colors of earth tones and prefers the more primitive style that characterized the first storytellers. She makes very small, miniature storytellers and puts many children on and around them. They are often grandfather storytellers in honor of her own grandfather who was a storyteller. Juanita learned to make pottery by watching her mother who also worked in clay.
She follows another tradition: “I talk to my clay. I say I hope you will make your new family happy wherever you go. I hope your new people will think of our Indian ways and that you will give them blessings.”
Most storytellers are made as standing or sitting figures. Lately, Martinez has been shaping lounging storytellers, as if resting on a hot afternoon. The eyes are closed because “she's seeing the story in her mind as she tells it to the children".
The Story Tellers
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