Baca, David
David Yellow Mountain Baca was born in 1951, the son of Angela Baca and Antonio Baca. He was the older brother of Leona Baca and Alvin Baca. They all learned how to make pottery through watching and working with their mother and grandmother, Severa Tafoya, as they grew up at Santa Clara Pueblo.
David made mostly red and black melon jars with multiple carved ribs and elongated necks. He also made red and black jars and bowls with sgraffito designs and he made red and black clay pipes.
He was a participant in the Santa Fe Indian Market and Eight Northern Pueblos Arts & Crafts Show for many years. He won multiple ribbons in that time. His work has been exhibited in galleries in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, California, Tennessee, Washington and New Jersey.
David was also an accomplished musician, playing guitar and harmonica in his family’s band. They played clubs and special occasions all over northern New Mexico.
Some Exhibits that Featured Works by David
- Images, Artists, Styles: Recent Acquisitions from the Heard Museum Collection. Heard Museum North. Scottsdale, AZ. July, 2001 – December, 2001
- Symbolism in the Abstract. Gallery 10. Scottsdale, AZ December 20, 1991 – January 31, 1992
Some Awards Won by David
- 2018 Santa Fe Indian Market: Mela Youngblood Memorial Award for Best in Traditional Santa Clara Pueblo Pottery, Traditional Methods with a Contemporary Shape or Design, Black, Any Size
- 2004 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II – Pottery, Div. B – Traditional pottery, undecorated, Cat. 903 – Melon bowls and melon jars, Second Place
- 2001 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II – Pottery; Div. B – Traditional pottery, Category 902 – melon bowls and jars, black: Third Place
– Category 903 – melon bowls and jars, all others: First Place - 2000 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II – Pottery, Div. B – Traditional pottery, Category 902 – melon bowls and jars, black: Second Place
- 1996 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II – Pottery, Div. B – Traditional pottery, Category 903 – Melon Bowls: Second Place
- 1994 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II – Pottery, Division B – traditional pottery, undecorated Category 904 – Melon bowls and jars: Second Place
- 1992 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class II – Pottery, Category 908 – miscellaneous: Third Place
- 1990 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class VI – Misc. Art, Division B – stone and wood, Category 2601 – pipes: Third Place
- 1983 Santa Fe Indian Market. Class V – Weaving/baskets, Division D – misc. crafts: Second Place