Jonathan Loretto Cochiti/Walatowa tribaljewel@msn.com
Artist Statement
Art has been and always will be a part of my life, whether through my bobbleheads, pottery, jewelry, music, construction, or native dancing. It’s the creativity and movement of life itself that inspires me. It’s the respect I have for my elders and ancestors that keeps me humble in creating pieces that are non-offensive to their teachings, for what we create speaks volumes of our values of who we really are as artists. As an artist, I believe the creation of my bobbleheads brings out laughter and and smiles to those who have the opportunity to view them up close and personal.
Fellowships/Residencies/Involvements National Museum of the American Indian | Washington, DC “Ceramics of the Southwest: A Native American Heritage Month Celebration,” November 14 – 15, 2015 Demonstration of clayworks. Institute of American Indian Arts | Santa Fe, NM Artists-in-Residence Program, September – October 2015 Demonstrations and talks to students, faculty, and community. The School for Advanced Research | Santa Fe, NM 2012 Rollin and Mary Ella King Native Artist Fellow 3 month residency to create art, study and enhance art skills, with a focus on using traditional clay methods. Cup Group Show | Roxanne Swentzell Tower Gallery, Pojoaque, NM December 2013 – January 2014 Fire Blessings: The Art of Creative Native Bobbleheads Artist demonstration at the Wheelwright Museum, August 13-14, 2012 Wheelwright Museum | Santa Fe, NM Goodman Fellowship Traveled to the village of Mata Ortiz, in Chihuahua, Mexico to introduce inlay work on pottery designs of selected artists. 6 month teaching stay. Vermont Studio Center | Johnson, Vermont 30 day residency to create art, focused on refining my pottery techniques.
Recognition First American Art Magazine Fall 2015 Ascending New Heights: Four Artists to Watch SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market 2015 – First blue ribbon awarded 2013 – Second place winner in Pottery, Division E: Category 903 2012 – Second place winner in Pottery, Division E: Category 805; Second place winner in Pottery, Division E: Category 806 The Santa Fe New Mexican: Indian Market Magazine 2013 Jonathan Loretto’s creative path Albuquerque Journal North Bobbleheads, August 14, 2012
Teaching 2014 First Traditional Pottery Class at Institute of American Indian Arts | Santa Fe, NM Guest instructor with Porter Swentzell, teaching traditional pottery techniques. Hui No’ Eau’ Visual Arts Center | Maui, Hawaii Taught inlay and fabrication of jewelry for about a year.
Jewelry Jewelry & Inlay Work Mark Howard Goldsmith | Santa Fe, NM Mark Howard, Owner 2015-2016 | Apprentice Fairchild & Co. | Santa Fe, NM Valerie Fairchild, Owner 2 years experience in inlay work with semi-precious stones. Opals, turquoise, lapis, sugilite, etc. Nancy Brown | Santa Fe, NM Nancy Brown, Owner 3 years experience in inlay work with semi-precious stones. Opals, turquoise, lapis, sugilite, etc. Bagley & Hotchkiss | Santa Rosa, CA John Bagley, Owner Seasonal work – 5 years experience in inlay work with semi-precious stones. Opals, turquoise, lapis, sugilite, etc. Ralph Lauren | New York, NY Ralph Lauren, Owner Contract work. 2 years experience working on concho belt collection. Independent Jeweler/Contract Work 13 years experience. Working for companies such as Marc Howard Goldsmith, Ralph Lauren, and Lehman & Lee. Clay/inlay work featured at the Case Trading Post at the Wheelwright Museum, Santa Fe, NM.
Conchos and tools for Ralph Lauren’s Concho Belt Collection, as featured on Oprah Winfrey’s November 2004 O Magazine cover, modeled by Oprah Winfrey; and as modeled by Jessica Simpson. Made by Native artists from the surrounding Santa Fe area, including Jonathan Loretto, under the direction of Bruce Vanlandingham. 2003-2004.
Bobblehead Storytellers All bobbleheads are painted with a mixture of natural and commercial paints, such as black beeweed and red natural paint, and are adorned with turquoise and coral and shell beads. All are fired outdoors naturally and with a pre-kiln bisque. The clay is a natural white and brown clay mixture. Creative process includes traditional coiling methods.
People
Animals
Mermaids
Pottery
All bowls are painted with a mixture of natural and commercial paints. Current work uses commercial and natural paint mixtures, such as black beeweed and red natural paint, and are adorned with turquoise and coral and shell inlay. All are fired outdoors naturally and with a pre-kiln bisque. The clay is a natural white and brown clay mixture.
Dough Bowls
Traditional style bowl with traditional designs and inlay work inspired by images of ancient Egyptian pottery.
Assorted Bowls
Bowl made during residency at the Vermont Studio Center.
Canteens & Vases
Miscellanious Masks, Collaboration work, etc.
Collaborations
Collaboration with Graciella Gallegos from Mata Ortiz, New Mexico. Design and patternwork by Graciella Gallegos. Inlay work by Jonathan Loretto.
Collaboration with Roxanne Swentzell for showing at the School for Advanced Research. Formed by Roxanne, and sanded, painted and assembled by Jonathan.