Adobe Gallery Blog

Geraldine's mother, Helen Atencio, was from San Ildefonso Pueblo and her father, Frank Gutierrez, from Santa Clara Pueblo. Although she technically belongs to her mother's pueblo, she makes her residence at Santa Clara and produces blackware pottery as well as paintings. Her paintings are certainly influenced by the work of her uncle, Gilbert Atencio of San Ildefonso Pueblo.

Geraldine Gutierrez carries on in the traditional manner of San Ildefonso Pueblo painting. Dance figures are her favorite theme, and generally they are drawn without any ground lines. Her colors are so intense they look as though they came directly from the paint tubes. They are delicate in value, consistently neat, outlines tend to be fine, and there is much delicate modeling and shading.

Religion is an integral part of Native life and it is incorporated into everyday activities, unlike other religions that are practiced only once a week. The Indians innate ability to sense the harmony of nature and to perceive its beauty as a religious phenomenon that pervades all phases of daily life is often portrayed in their art, as in this painting where Geraldine portrays a Tewa Clown (Koosa) performing a ceremonial offering or daily prayers with evergreen boughs in her hands. This Koosa is dressed as a female even though the impersonation is being performed by a male.

This painting was completed when the artist was only 14 years of age. The perspective is accurate and the detail is well rendered. The face of the clown is remarkably well drawn.

Condition: appears to be in original condition
Provenance: from the personal collection of Margaret Gutierrez of Santa Clara Pueblo

Subject: Tewa Koosa Female Clown
Artist: Geraldine Gutierrez (1960 - present)
Category: Paintings
Origin: Santa Clara Pueblo
Medium: watercolor on paper
Size: 15-1/2" x 9-3/4" image; 24" x 18-1/4" framed
Item # C3372C