22-0705 Cochiti Storyteller Turtle by Dena M. Suina
Late 20th century
Cochiti Pueblo NM
1" x 7" x 4"
From a Private Colorado Collection
Excellent Condition
Dena Suina is a full blooded Native American Indian. She was born in 1961 into the San Felipe Pueblo. Dena married into the pueblo of Cochiti in the 1980’s. She sparked an interest in sculpting clay figures while observing her mother-in-law, Louise Suina, hand coil and hand paint her beautiful clay sculptures. Louise taught Dena all the fundamentals of how to hand coil all types of sculptures using traditional methods. Dena has been working with clay art since 1991.
Dena specializes in handmade and hand painted contemporary storytellers. Dena’s unique style of storytellers is of a traditional Cochiti storyteller, but with crisp detailed lines, very small children and exquisite painting. Her sculptures are all hand coiled, hand pinched, and hand painted. She makes a wide variety of sizes and adds very intricate detail to her clay sculptures. Dena has established herself as a fine artisan and continues to amaze collectors with her intricate efforts. She signs her pottery as: Dena M. Suina, Cochiti/San Felipe Pueblo, N.M.