Vigil, Carol

Carol Vigil was born into Jemez Pueblo in March of 1960. Her mother, aunt and grandmother were potters but Carol didn’t really get into the clay until she was in her twenties.

Carol says a turning point in her life came when Maria Martinez died. That was when she put her hands in clay and truly felt strength and encouragement flowing into her from the clay. Then she got serious and studied with her grandmother, Julia Baca, and her aunt, Persingula Gachupin.

Over the years Carol has participated in the Santa Fe Indian Market, Heard Museum Indian Market in Phoenix and Colorado Indian Market in Denver. Some of her pieces are in the Smithsonian Collection in Washington DC. She’s gone home from the Santa Fe Indian Market with two Best in Category ribbons and a Best in Division ribbon.

Carol’s favorite pottery shape to work with is the vase, usually red and polished, then decorated with bands of traditional and contemporary sgraffito daisy designs.

When not making pottery, Carol is a family advocate and works with victims of domestic violence and their children. She is busy, working hard to keep families together and in safe environments. She says that when it gets to be too much, she turns to the clay for strength and relaxation. Working with clay renews her body and mind as she is a caring and passionate person. Perhaps you can feel that when you see and touch her pottery…