Popovi Da
Popovi Da, originally named Antonio Martínez, was a notable potter from the San Ildefonso Pueblo, recognized for his significant contributions to Indigenous art and pottery. He is the son of renowned potters María and Julian Martínez, and after legally changing his name to his Tewa name in 1948, he established a studio at San Ildefonso where he showcased exceptional Indigenous arts. His collaboration with his mother on pottery design began in the 1950s, during which he played a pivotal role in reviving traditional techniques and styles, particularly through his experiments with polychrome ware.
Additionally, Popovi Da innovated new pottery types, such as sienna ware and black-and-sienna ware, utilizing a complex two-firing process. He is also credited as the first contemporary Pueblo potter to incorporate turquoise stones into his works. Beyond his artistic endeavors, Popovi Da was an influential community leader, serving as governor of San Ildefonso and holding positions within various councils and commissions. His legacy is preserved in various institutions, including the Smithsonian, which holds a collection of his writings and exhibition materials.
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Subject Terms
Popovi Da
- CATEGORY: Potter
- TRIBAL AFFILIATION: San Ildefonso Pueblo (Tewa)
- SIGNIFICANCE: Popovi Da, son of María Martínez and Julian Martínez, continued the pottery renaissance that they had begun at San Ildefonso, adding many significant contributions of his own
In 1948, Popovi Da (Red Fox) legally changed his name from Antonio Martínez to his Tewa name and opened a studio of Indigenous art at San Ildefonso, where he sold outstanding examples of Indigenous arts, including pottery made by his mother, María Martínez. By 1950, he was helping decorate his mother María’s pottery, and by 1956, his experiments with polychrome ware had resulted in the revival of a style that had seldom been seen since the mid-1920s. Popovi, who had studied at the Santa Fe Indian School in the early 1930s, had developed an innovative approach to design and technique. He won awards for his work at the Gallup Ceremonial and elsewhere.
From 1961 to 1964, he developed two new pottery types: sienna ware and black-and-sienna ware. Both types involved a complicated two-firing process. One of the most beautiful new finishes Popovi created was the gunmetal ware, fired in the same way as the black ware but in a hotter fire for a longer period of time. Popovi was also the first contemporary Pueblo potter to set turquoise stones into his pottery.
Popovi Da was a religious, community, and business leader as well as an outstanding artist. He served several terms as governor of San Ildefonso, was chairman of the All-Pueblo Council of Governors, and was a member of the New Mexico Arts Commission. The Smithsonian Institution holds a collection of Popovi Da's letters, reviews, and exhibition catalogs.
Bibliography
McGreevey, Susan. "Maria a Renaissance in Pottery." Helicon Nine, vol. 6, spring 1982, pp. 68–73. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=prf&AN=23198143&site=ehost-live. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.
"Popovi Da." Andrea Fisher Pottery, andreafisherpottery.com/bios/popovi‗da01.php. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.
"Popovi Da." Atomic Heritage Foundation, ahf.nuclearmuseum.org/ahf/profile/popovi-da. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.
"Popovi Da - Native American Pottery." In the Eyes of the Pot, www.eyesofthepot.com/san-ildefonso/popovi-da.php#google‗vignette. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.
"Popovi Da, San Ildefonso Pueblo Artist." Adobe Gallery, www.adobegallery.com/artist/Popovi‗Da‗1922‗197187453537. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.