Acoma polychrome water jar
About this video
An Acoma Pueblo speaker describes a water jar from Acoma known as the pumpkin pot. While its form and neck design are typical of Acoma, the pumpkin design and green pigment are unusual, and cultural leaders identify it as a tribute to the Pumpkin Clan. Its symbols of sun, clouds, rain, field, pumpkin and corn express the Acoma life way and continued existence.
You'll be able to
- identify what is typical and what is unusual about this Acoma water jar.
- explain how the pot honours the Pumpkin Clan.
- interpret the pot's symbols as a picture of the Acoma life way.
Key words
- polychrome
- Painted in many colours.
- clan
- A group of families who share an ancestor; at Acoma, clans go back to the time of emergence.
- emergence stories
- Traditional stories about how the people first came into this world.
- pigment
- A natural colouring material used to paint pottery.
Transcript
VALLO: When I first learned about the Diker Collection I was always intrigued by the pumpkin pot from Acoma. This is a water jar. It is very unique because of the design. While the form and the design on the neck are representative of a typical Acoma pot, the pumpkin design it's just so unique.
And there is a pigment that fired to a green finish, which is not a traditional color used at Acoma. After speaking with cultural leaders and other potters from Acoma about this particular pot, it was clear that this pot is a tribute to the Pumpkin Clan of Acoma.
According to our emergence stories, at the time of emergence there were a certain number of clans that were born onto this world. I’m Sun Clan, and on this pot, we have the sun symbol on the neck there. The sun is surrounded by clouds and rain symbols, and then the larger body of the pot would represent a field or the land, what we would call stádyou or shtída'paima.
And here’s this pumpkin, and beside the pumpkin, the corn. Corn is so significant to any indigenous culture, and so this is an incredible representation of what Acoma people today and what our ancestors believe is the life way. It’s a symbol, part of a larger story of our cultures and our continued existence on this earth.
I am very pleased to see that items from my community are being included in this important exhibition. These pieces will share their energy, the blessings that they contain, with everyone who sees them.
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