Coriz, Arthur and Hilda

Hilda and Arthur Coriz were a husband-and-wife team of potters from Santo Domingo Pueblo. Hilda was a sister of award-earning potter Robert Tenorio and began making pottery with his encouragement. Arthur learned to make pottery by watching Hilda and Robert.

When they first started learning the traditional craft, Arthur and Hilda would make pots while Robert would create decorative designs and do the painting. Within two years time, they were working on their own. Hilda made pots and Arthur painted them.

Eventually, they became full-time potters. They earned numerous awards at the Santa Fe Indian Market between 1983 and 1998. They also participated in exhibitions at the Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Arts & Crafts Show.

Arthur and Hilda always made their pottery using the traditional methods of Santo Domingo potters. They used only natural clays and the Rocky Mountain bee plant, also known as wild spinach, and honey for making black paint.

Together they made traditional polychrome jars, bowls, dough bowls, and canteens. Arthur and Hilda’s favorite designs included birds, clouds, flowers and animals like the deer and bighorn sheep. They signed their pottery as “Arthur and Hilda Coriz,” often inside the outline of a pot.

Arthur died in 1998 and Hilda in 2007. Their daughter Ione Coriz (b. 1973) also makes traditional Santo Domingo pottery. In 1988 Ione Coriz placed Third and in 1989 she earned Second Place for her pottery in the ages 18 & under divisions at the Santa Fe Indian Market.

Some Awards earned by Hilda and Arthur

• 1998 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II – Pottery, Div. F – Traditional pottery, Cat. 1304, Other bowl forms, First Place
  – Cat. 1206 – Jar, Second Place
• 1996 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II – Pottery, Div. E – Traditional pottery, Cat. 1206 – Jars, Third Place
• 1993 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II – Pottery, Cat. 1303 – Jars, Third Place
  – Cat. 1404 – Other bowl forms, Second Place
• 1992 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II – Pottery, Cat. 1303 – Jars, Second Place
• 1991 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II – Pottery, Cat. 1303 – Jars, Second Place
  – Pottery, Cat. 1403 – Other bowl forms, Second Place
• 1990 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II – Pottery, Large Pottery Award, Best Traditional Pottery Bowl or Jar, 15″
  – Pottery, Div. F – Traditional pottery, Cat. 1203 – Jars, Second Place
• 1989 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II – Pottery, Div. F – Traditional, Cat 1203 – Jars, Second Place
• 1988 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II – Pottery, Div. Jar, canteen, First Place
• 1988 Gallup InterTribal Ceremonial. Pottery, jar, canteen, First Place
• 1986 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II – Pottery, Div. G – Traditional pottery, Cat. 1209 – Canteens, First Place
• 1983 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II – Pottery, Div. F – Traditional, Third Place