Marie Z. Chino
Encyclopedia
Marie Zieu Chino was a Native American
potter
from Acoma Pueblo
, New Mexico
. Marie and her friends Lucy M. Lewis
and Jessie Garcia are recognized as the three most important Acoma potters during the 1950s. The inspiration for many designs used on their pottery were found on old potsherds gathered to use for temper
. Together they led the revival of ancient pottery forms including the Mimbres
, Tularosa and other various cultures in the Anasazi region. This revival spread to other potters who also accepted the old styles, which led to new innovative designs and variations of style and form.
In 1922, Marie won her first award at the Santa Fe Indian Market
at the age of fifteen. She went on to receive numerous awards for her pottery from 1970-1982. In 1998 the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts recognized Marie with a “Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Marie became particularly well known for her fine-line black-on-white
pottery and vases with the step design. Her pots were distinctive in their complex geometric designs as well as the combination of life forms and abstract symbols. Some of her favorite designs include: Mimbres animals, Tularosa swirls, Acoma parrots, rainbows, bushes with berries, leaves, rain, clouds, lightning and fine-line snowflakes.
Marie was the matriarch of the Chino family of potters. She helped her children and grandchildren learn the fine art of pottery making and had many students. Marie had five daughters who were potters, of whom Grace, Carrie and Rose achieved reputations as excellent potters.
When Marie traveled to the Indian art shows or the Indian Market in Santa Fe, she often took her family with her. There they met people from around the world who loved to collect their pottery. This instilled a sense of pride and unity throughout the Chino family. Marie’s descendants have carried on the tradition of making fine Acoma pottery.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
potter
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
from Acoma Pueblo
Acoma Pueblo
Acoma Pueblo is a Native American pueblo approximately 60 miles west of Albuquerque, New Mexico in the United States. Three reservations make up Acoma Pueblo: Sky City , Acomita, and McCartys. The Acoma Pueblo tribe is a federally recognized tribal entity...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. Marie and her friends Lucy M. Lewis
Lucy M. Lewis
Lucy M. Lewis was a Native American potter from Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico. She is known for her black-on-white decorative ceramics made using traditional techniques....
and Jessie Garcia are recognized as the three most important Acoma potters during the 1950s. The inspiration for many designs used on their pottery were found on old potsherds gathered to use for temper
Temper
Temperare is the Latin origin of words like "temperature" and "tempering"; it and "tempo" come, in turn, from tempus...
. Together they led the revival of ancient pottery forms including the Mimbres
Mimbres
Mimbres may refer to:* Mimbres culture , a subdivision of Mogollon culture* Mimbres pottery, a particular style of pottery decoration from the Mimbres culture* Mimbres Valley AVA, an American Viticultural Area in southwestern New Mexico...
, Tularosa and other various cultures in the Anasazi region. This revival spread to other potters who also accepted the old styles, which led to new innovative designs and variations of style and form.
In 1922, Marie won her first award at the Santa Fe Indian Market
Santa Fe Indian Market
Santa Fe Indian Market is an annual art market held in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA over two days on the weekend after the third Thursday in August and draws an estimated 100,000 people to the city from around the world. The Market was first held in 1922 as the Indian Fair and was sponsored by the...
at the age of fifteen. She went on to receive numerous awards for her pottery from 1970-1982. In 1998 the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts recognized Marie with a “Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Marie became particularly well known for her fine-line black-on-white
Light-on-dark color scheme
A light-on-dark color scheme is a color scheme that uses light-colored text on a dark background and is often discussed in terms of computer user interface design....
pottery and vases with the step design. Her pots were distinctive in their complex geometric designs as well as the combination of life forms and abstract symbols. Some of her favorite designs include: Mimbres animals, Tularosa swirls, Acoma parrots, rainbows, bushes with berries, leaves, rain, clouds, lightning and fine-line snowflakes.
Marie was the matriarch of the Chino family of potters. She helped her children and grandchildren learn the fine art of pottery making and had many students. Marie had five daughters who were potters, of whom Grace, Carrie and Rose achieved reputations as excellent potters.
When Marie traveled to the Indian art shows or the Indian Market in Santa Fe, she often took her family with her. There they met people from around the world who loved to collect their pottery. This instilled a sense of pride and unity throughout the Chino family. Marie’s descendants have carried on the tradition of making fine Acoma pottery.