Tapia, Sue

“Each piece of pottery has within it a part of their heart and soul because, traditionally, that’s what it takes to work with the gifts that The Mother has so generously provided.”

Sue Tapia was born to Edward Poncho Sr. and Mabel Poncho of Laguna Pueblo in May 1946. That was a time when most Laguna men had good-paying jobs and the women were essentially free to do whatever with their time. Mabel had learned to make pottery from her mother and in the early and mid 1950s, often went with her mother to sell pottery along the side of Route 66 as it wound its way across Laguna Pueblo. But Mabel made little pottery for commercial purposes, most of her pottery was for ceremonial use only. That’s what Sue learned to make as she was growing up. Then she married Tom Tapia and moved to his home at Ohkay Owingeh.

At Ohkay Owingeh, Sue learned how to make Potsuwi’i pottery. Tom had grown up learning the traditional methods for making Potsuwi’i pottery with his mother, Leonidas Tapia. Then after marrying Sue, he deviated from that and added sgraffito to his toolkit. Together, they worked out a shape and design kit that allowed them to work together and not contravene any tribal restrictions.

Their process evolved to where Tom designed the pots that Sue made. Then he would decorate some and she would decorate some. They earned many awards over the years at venues like the Gallup InterTribal Ceremonial, the Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Arts & Crafts Show and the New Mexico State Fair.

Tom passed on in 2015 and shortly after, Sue returned to Laguna Pueblo.