Melchor, Crucita

Crucita Melchor was the daughter of Santana Melchor. She was born into Santo Domingo Pueblo around 1932 and grew up learning how to make pottery by watching and working with her mother. She still collaborated with her mother often after she went out on her own. She collaborated with her sister, Dolorita Melchor, sometimes, too.

Crucita primarily made polychrome jars and bowls. She and her mother were part of a delegation of artists who went to Washington DC in 1974 and met with the First Lady (at the time), Pat Nixon.

Some of Crucita’s work was part of the Images from the Earth exhibit at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM, from October 6, 1978 to November 3, 1978.