Black on Black Buffalo and Mountain Sheep Red Starr Pottery
Red Starr has been an active Indian potter for almost 30 years. He has won 12 awards from the Santa Fe Indian Market, 4 of which were for first place, in categories such as miniature black sgraffito bowl, sgraffito red bowl, nontraditional, new forms and innovations, and sgraffito with stones. Red Starr has also exhibited at the Sid Deusch Gallery in New York.
His favorite designs are scenes from nature that are depicted on all his pots. Red Starr's work displays great craft - very well-made, even and balanced. He is an artist who always strives to improve his work. He is also committed to helping several other potters and artists in the field. His nephew, Norman Red Star, was mentored by Red Starr and has developed a very similar style to that of his uncle.
It's important to mention the evolution of Red Starr's name - he was born Elmer Red Star in South Dakota. He received a football scholarship to the University of Minnesota where he was put on the roster as simply "Red Starr". After several years, he changed his name to just that. His nephew, Norman Red Star, still only has one r at the end of his name.
Red Starr came to New Mexico when he met and married Harriet Tafoya. His first work was done in conjunction with his mother-in-law, Cresencia Tafoya, who used to make the pots he etched. She and his wife taught him the traditional methods of Santa Clara pottery making, and Red Starr now primarily makes his own pots for etching.
This bowl is a fine example of Red Starr's work. On the body and around the neck, it shows mountain sheep, buffalo amd other animal life framed by the peaks of mountains. Additional feathers are on the sides of the piece. The bowl measures 6 inches high x 4 3/4 inches wide, and is signed by the potter.
Item No.: A1732
Artist: Red Starr
Size: 6 in H x 4 3/4 in D
Price: 525
