Baca, Jane

Jane Baca was born into Santa Clara Pueblo in 1919 and passed on in 2011. She was the daughter of Herman and Marianita Chavarria Velarde. Potter Legoria Tafoya and painter Pablita Velarde were her sisters.

Jane was an active potter in the mid-1930s, making carved and polished brownware and blackware engagement baskets, wedding vases, bowls, and beaver, bear and human figures. Her favorite designs were beavers, bears, kiva steps and the avanyu (the mythic Tewa water serpent).

Jane’s daughter, (Pamela) Starr Tafoya, was born in 1951 and grew up watching and working with her mother while she made pottery. Collaborations between the two (signed Jane & Starr) earned the First, Second and Third Place ribbons for plain Santa Clara pottery at the 1981 Santa Fe Indian Market. Both earned many more ribbons after that.

Jane and Starr exhibited at the Santa Fe Indian Market for more than 20 years. They were also participants at the Eight Northern Pueblos Arts & Crafts Show for more than 10 years.

Some Awards earned by Jane

  • 2001 Santa Fe Indian Market. Classification II – Pottery, Division C – traditional pottery, carved or incised, Category 1004 – figure, single or multiple: Second Place with Starr Tafoya
    – Division B – traditional pottery, undecorated, Category 905 – figures (single or multiple): Second Place with Starr Tafoya
  • 2000 Santa Fe Indian Market. Classification II – Pottery. Division B- traditional pottery, undecorated, plain, polished. Category 907-Figurine: Second Place and Third Place with Starr Tafoya
  • 1999 Santa Fe Indian Market. Pottery, Category 1406 – figures up to 7″: Second Place
    – Category 1408 – figures: First Place
  • 1997 Santa Fe Indian Market. Classification II – Pottery, Division B – Traditional pottery, Category 907 – Figures: First Place and Second Place
  • 1996 Santa Fe Indian Market. Classification II – Pottery, Division B – Traditional pottery, Category 907 – Figures: Third Place with Starr Tafoya
  • 1993 Santa Fe Indian Market. Category 907 – Figures: Second Place
  • 1992 Santa Fe Indian Market. Category 907 – Figures: First Place
  • 1990 Santa Fe Indian Market. Division B: traditional pottery, Category 807: Second Place
  • 1984 Santa Fe Indian Market. Category 807: First Place
  • 1981 Santa Fe Indian Market. First Place (Bear), Second Place (Canteen), Third Place (Miniature bears)
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