Tafoya, Judy

“It gives me joy, peace and contentment… to create a piece of pottery that can minister to someone else by beauty and testimony.” – Judy Tafoya

The daughter of Cecilia Naranjo and James Lee McLean, Judy Tafoya was born in Los Angeles, Ca in January 1962. There’s no record of when the family returned to Santa Clara Pueblo but Judy did say she learned how to make pottery through watching and working with her mother and her grandmother, Christina Naranjo. She was also encouraged by her older sister, Sharon Naranjo Garcia. After Judy married Lincoln Tafoya, Sharon taught him, too. (Lincoln was from a different clan and a different Tafoya family: marriage strictures in the pueblos ensure that potential spouses are genetically further apart than first cousins.)

Judy and Lincoln collaborated on their pottery almost all their married life. They made carved redware and blackware, jars, bowls, seed pots, plates, lidded jars, water jars, storage jars, vases, wedding vases, nativity sets and some figures.

Judy participated in events like the Santa Fe Indian Market, Eight Northern Pueblos Arts and Crafts Show, the Gallup InterTribal Ceremonial, the Heard Museum Guild Indian Arts Fair and Market, the New Mexico State Fair, the Eiteljorg Museum Indian Art Market and others. She and Lincoln earned multiple ribbons at each.

Judy and Lincoln shared the labor in making their pottery. He gathered and prepared the clay, she formed the pots. Usually she made four to six pots in sequence. Once dry, she did the deep carving, then Lincoln did the low-relief carving/sgraffito work. After that, Judy polished using a stone passed down from her grandmother, Christina Naranjo. They did the firing together.

Lincoln and Judy had seven children, all of whom learned how to make pottery the tradtional way.

Some Awards earned by Judy

  • 2011 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market, Classification II – Pottery, Division C – Traditional, native clay, hand built, carved: First Place
  • 2011 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market: Judge’s Choice Award
  • 2008 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market: Judge’s Choice Award
  • 2006 Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Arts & Crafts Show: Best in Traditional Pottery. Awarded for a collaborative pot, black, deep-carved storage jar, entitled “Avanyu” made with Lincoln Tafoya
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