Sculpture - A New Direction - Marian Williams Pottery

After taking the workshop in San Miguel de Allende, (see post here) I really was anxious to see if I could sculpt. I jumped right in and after a few stumbles created my first figurative sculpture. I’m sure that she is not amazing to most, but to me, she is significant…

figurative sculpture, Pohaha, American Indian Warrior Princess — Close-up of Pohaha, American Indian Princess Warrior.

I’ve named her, Pohaha, who was an American Indian Warrior Princess. She is raku-d and placed on burned timber which suits her look – she’s like an artefact that was discovered in the burned rumble and pulled out of the earth. As with any artefact, along comes the history of the culture surrounding the artefact – and so is true with Pohaha. Research into the role of women in American Indian life revealed that American Indians treated women as equals – they participated in combat, war councils and running of the tribes. Our history excludes or minimises the role of women in the American Indian culture as the history was written by Europeans. Europeans felt that the equal treatment of women was odd/unacceptable, and thus, wrote history as they wanted it to read – no women as warriors, war chiefs, or shaman.

Here are some process photos:

Sculpture Head In Process

Sculpture Torso/Chest Before Adding Head

Head Attached To Torso

Close Up View of Sculpture After Applying Terra Sigelatta And Burnishing.

Applying War Paint Wax Resist Before Applying Clear Raku Glaze.

Pohaha, After Firing In Raku.

The warpaint in the image of a hand on her face indicates her prowess in hand-to-hand combat. Her feathers are symbolic as American Indians believed that all life and beings have souls – the feathers would be a part of that creatures soul.