Lonnie Vigil

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Lonnie Vigil
Born1949 (age 74–75)
NationalityAmerican
Alma materEastern New Mexico University
Known forPottery

Lonnie Vigil (born 1949) is an American potter. He is self-taught and from Nambé Pueblo, New Mexico.[1]

Early life, education and early career[edit]

Vigil grew up at Nambé Pueblo, New Mexico. He began his career as a financial and business consultant in New Mexico and Washington, D.C. after earning a business degree from Eastern New Mexico University, located in Portales, New Mexico. But by the early 1980s, he began to realize that his life in Washington gave him "nothing to feed his soul". A performance of film, music, drama, and dance called "Night of the First Americans" which he attended on March 4, 1982 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., inspired him to return to New Mexico, where he began working exclusively as a micaceous clay potter.[2][3][4][5]

Art career[edit]

Vigil is singularly credited with reviving unpainted, micaceous pottery and establishing its credibility as a contemporary art form.[6] He defines himself as a "PhD" in his field.[7]

An expert in micaceous clay pottery, he takes classic ceramic techniques and refines them to push the medium beyond the expected norms.[8]

He works primarily in micaceous clay, which is characterized by its sparkling mica flecks, using Nambe clay and slip and traditional outdoor firing techniques.[9] He hand-gathers the clay for each of his pieces, adding sand to make it workable.[10]

Like many contemporary ceramic artists in the American Southwest, Vigil preserves the traditions of his culture while pursuing his own creative initiatives. His artworks reflect the style of his ancestors – hand-built forms used for cooking and storage.

He attributes his success as an artist to the guidance of his great-grandmother, Perfilia Anaya Pena, and great-aunts, who are also potters.[11]

For him, each instance of making a pot is an encounter with Earth Mother and with his Nambe pueblo ancestors who worked the clay before him. He believes that each pot "speaks to the continuity in the identity of family and community", but is simultaneously an act of connection between the potter, Earth Mother, and the ancestral spirits that guide them.[12]

Creative process[edit]

"There is collaboration between the clay and myself – the clay tells me what direction to take. I let the pot dry in the house for a day or two, then take it outside, and smooth the surface. My pots are traditional, and I follow the techniques of my ancestors – except for the asymmetricals I have created. In the past, Pueblo people cooked in clay, using pots for everything. It is not that common anymore; they mostly use them for special occasions."
–Lonnie Vigil[13]

Notable collections[edit]

Awards[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Godreche, Dominique. "10 Elegant Jars by Nambe Pueblo Potter Lonnie Vigil". Indian Country Today Media Network. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  2. ^ "Lonnie Vigil" (PDF). Peabody Essex Museum. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  3. ^ "Lonnie Vigil". School for Advanced Research. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  4. ^ Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (2010). Native American art. Gerald W. R. Ward (1st ed.). Boston, Mass.: MFA Publications, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. p. 95. ISBN 978-0-87846-751-8. OCLC 613625243.
  5. ^ Gamarekian, Barbara; Times, Special To the New York (March 5, 1982). "A GALA IN WASHINGTON FOR AMERICAN INDIAN GROUP". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  6. ^ "Micaceous Pottery Jar". Google Cultural Institute/Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  7. ^ Godreche, Dominique. "10 Elegant Jars by Nambe Pueblo Potter Lonnie Vigil". Indian Country Today Media Network. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  8. ^ Grimes, John R.; Feest, Christian F.; Curran, Mary Lou (2002). Native American Art From the Peabody Essex Museum. New York City; Seattle: American Federation of Arts; University of Washington Press. p. 66. ISBN 0-295-98240-3.
  9. ^ "Lonnie Vigil". School for Advanced Research. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  10. ^ Godreche, Dominique. "10 Elegant Jars by Nambe Pueblo Potter Lonnie Vigil". Indian Country Today Media Network. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  11. ^ "Lonnie Vigil" (PDF). Peabody Essex Museum. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  12. ^ Grimes, John R.; Haukaas, Thomas; Curran, Mary Lou; Kramer, Karen. "Power and Beauty" (PDF). American Indian Art Magazine (Winter 2003): 55. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  13. ^ Godreche, Dominique. "10 Elegant Jars by Nambe Pueblo Potter Lonnie Vigil". Indian Country Today Media Network. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  14. ^ "Lonnie Vigil". School for Advanced Research. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  15. ^ "Native Treasures Awards Lonnie Viil 2010 Living Treasure Award". Marshall Plan: Strategic Marketing and Public Relations. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  16. ^ Godreche, Dominique. "10 Elegant Jars by Nambe Pueblo Potter Lonnie Vigil". Indian Country Today Media Network. Retrieved May 3, 2014.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

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