Martinez, Chris

Chris Martinez was born to parents Barbara Martinez and Manuel Martinez of Santa Clara Pueblo in October 1968. He began learning how to make pottery by watching and working with his grandmother, Flora Naranjo, beginning when he was fourteen years old. His brother and sister, Sammy Naranjo and Vickie Martinez, also learned the traditional way of making pottery from their grandmother. Chris told us by the time he was ten he was making his spending money by preparing clay for Margaret Tafoya and Teresita Naranjo.

Chris makes both black and red pottery styles, specializing in large jars and low shouldered bowls. His pots are characterized by bold carving and fine stone polishing. Over the years Chris has developed his own unique style of carving the avanyu (the mythic water serpent of the Santa Clara people). He has also elaborated on the forms he learned from his grandmother, creating his own designs that sometimes incorporate eagle feathers and other symbols of his culture.

Chris tells us his favorite shapes to work with are saucer-shaped water jars and his favorite design to carve is the avanyu. He also says his inspiration comes from within.

After more than twenty years as a wildland firefighter for the US Forest Service, Chris retired a while ago. He says he has always had a very special relationship with the element of fire, carefully tending his own fires to make his pottery and then working to help put out great forest fires. That strength of purpose is evident in his work.