Gallup native R. Diane Martinez demonstrates how she creates some of her pottery Thursday at the Red Rock Park Museum. She uses short, layered coils of clay that are smoothed.

Photo by Jeff Jones

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Potter blends variety of cultural traditions

Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Special to the Independent

GALLUP — It's been more than 25 years since R. Diane Martinez has called Gallup home, but she's back for a visit and she's brought a stunning collection of her award-winning pottery for area residents to view.

For those who missed her pottery demonstrations Thursday, Martinez will be at the opening art show reception 7-9 tonight at Red Rock State Park Museum.

The show includes nearly 30 pieces of Martinez's meticulously crafted work. The pieces range from a small, hand-built piece, "Red and Black Fetish Bear," that sells for $32 to a large black-on-black pot, "State Fair Buffalo Bowl," that goes for $7,500.

Martinez and her art work both demonstrate a lively combination of different cultural traditions, all blending together in a spirited mix. The daughter of Robert and Honoria McClanahan of Gallup, Martinez has Irish ancestry from her father and Tarahumara Mexican Indian ancestry from her mother. Martinez's husband, Robert, a part-time rodeo cowboy, is of Taos and San Ildefonso Pueblo heritage.

Down-to-earth artist

Martinez is a warm, friendly woman whose conversation is filled with frank opinions, amusing tales and much laughter. She has a theory that "every art form attracts its own kind of personality."

Martinez believes that potters, because they work with materials from the soil, are down-to-earth people who surround
themselves with children and animals. Whether or not that theory is true, it is apparently so for her.

Martinez, her husband and their five children share their rural Bosque Farms, N.M., home with 10 horses, six cows and an assortment of goats, dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits, turtles, fish and birds.

Martinez's work draws on ancient Southwest Indian pottery techniques and also upon contemporary methods and materials. Some pots she builds by hand, using the coil method. Others she forms on a potter's wheel. And sometimes she uses molded pots.

When she crafts traditional Southwestern pottery, she uses the laborious ancient native method of digging her own clay, aging it for months and then firing it in a wood firing pit. But when she pulls the pots out of the fire, she uses modern welders' gloves and her husband's horseshoeing tools.

With her more sleek, glossy, contemporary pieces, Martinez paints the designs with a special formula containing ground glass and fires them in an electric kiln.

And while many of her design elements are traditionally Southwestern in appearance, another is a contemporary splatter design she applies with a toothbrush.

But whatever the method, Martinez prides herself on creating carefully crafted pieces featuring lots of fine detail work.

She disputes the notion some people hold that hand-crafted pottery should be somewhat rough, particularly on the inside. Martinez feels that's just a sign of sloppy work. "It should be as clean on the inside as it is on the outside," she said.

Micaceous clay pots

In the current show, Martinez has a couple of traditionally made micaceous clay pots, which are a warm, red color. The clay has a high mica content and comes from a site near Taos that Martinez said her husband's family has been "using forever." One pot is covered with a delicate spider web-like pattern that was created when Martinez placed horsehair on the pot toward the end of the firing process.

Martinez said one can cook food in pottery made in this traditional manner. Although it might seem strange to cook in a pot that cost hundreds of dollars, Martinez said some people do just that. She said she likes cooking with these pots because it is almost impossible to burn food in them.

Martinez said she almost gave up on the traditional pit firing technique when one windy day her fire got out of control and burned down an 80-foot fence made of railroad ties. She laughed as she described how her angry husband insisted she clean up what she destroyed. According to Martinez, she had to dig out all the burned posts with a handyman's jack.

She is more careful now with her firing. "I don't do it when it's blowing," she said, laughing.

Martinez signs almost all her pots with her trademark signature followed by five small dots, which symbolize her five children. But she does not sign all her traditionally made pots. Some of those she trades with pueblo people who use them for ceremonial purposes.

"It's like if you made a crucifix for church and signed it," she explained with a shudder. "Bad manners."

A self-taught artist

According to Martinez, she is a self-taught artist who has learned all her techniques through 21 years of trial and error. She loves to experiment with old and new methods and admits, "I've got boxes of stuff that didn't work."

But she also has a solid career built on a collection of art that does work. She has won more than 100 blue ribbons in art shows around the country, including 19 straight years of first-place pottery awards at the New Mexico State Fair.

Martinez said she is particularly known for her glossy black-on-black pottery that features finely detailed geometric and wildlife designs and sometimes has turquoise stones set onto the pieces.

Her love of animals manifests itself in her designs depicting buffaloes, wolves, bears, horses, owls, coyotes, dragonflies and frogs. She has a particular affection for frogs and claims to be a champion frog racer at the local county fair.

Martinez is also known for decorating the insides of her pots almost as intricately as their outsides. In her pot, "White Wolf Bowl," priced at $3,757, the inside of the pot contains a landscape scene brimming with wildlife.

Painting freehand

During her public demonstrations Thursday, Martinez showed how she painted designs on her pottery freehand. "It's like a house," she explained, as she painted dividing lines around a pot. "You build a framework first."

She explained that, traditionally, most pots are divided into four sections, with one having a small spirit break in the design.

Martinez shuns using a pencil to first draw on a design. "If you can't do it freehand," she said, quoting a fellow potter, "you don't have any business doing these pots."

Martinez began her venture into pottery making as a creative experiment. Two decades later it has become her family's livelihood. Martinez said she puts in 12-hour days creating her art work, while her husband sells it daily on the Santa Fe Plaza. All five children are learning the art of pottery making from Martinez.

For those who cannot attend Martinez's reception tonight, her show will be on display at Red Rock State Park Museum until April 29. Call the museum at 863-1337 for more information.

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Cabellero apologizes
Accused drunken driver charged in three deaths

Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Johnny Cabellero, the accused drunken driver believed responsible for the deaths of a Navajo couple and their 8-month-old baby, publicly apologized to the family through the media Thursday and said he regrets what he has done.

"I would like to say to them, I'm sorry for what happened during that night and sorry for what I did," Cabellero said.

After nearly four weeks in the hospital for injuries he sustained in the March 13 accident which occurred after he led police on a high-speed chase Cabellero, 30, was transferred to McKinley County Adult Detention Center Thursday. He is being held on $100,000 bond for three counts of vehicular homicide.

Cabellero also was booked on a bench warrant for aggravated driving while intoxicated and possession of less than one ounce of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. The warrant for failure to pay fines is from an April incident in which Cabellero was arrested for his third DWI, according to court documents.

Cabellero, who arrived at the jail using crutches to support his braced right leg, will remain in protective custody so his leg can heal properly, said Jeannie King, the health services administrator at the jail. She said his medical condition is stable enough for him to be in the jail, but he will receive physical therapy through Gallup Indian Medical Center.

The Gallup man, who made his living as a roofer, also conveyed a message to his family his ex-girlfriend's children and his two children, Johnny Jr. and Meagan Annette Cabellero.

"Just tell them I miss them," he said. "It's time to be strong, and hopefully I'll get through this."

Cabellero was scheduled to be arraigned in Magistrate Court this morning on charges of homicide by a motor vehicle. Later today, prosecutors will ask a McKinley County grand jury to consider an additional charge of drunken driving.

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Tribe wants BIA out of lease process

Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation made it official Thursday, asking Congress to eliminate the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs when it comes to approving nonmineral leases.

By a 63-1 vote, the Navajo Nation Council voted to ask federal legislators to change federal law so that once the U.S. secretary of the interior approves a set of tribal rules for leases, the BIA would be out of the picture.

In 1987, the council put the tribe into competition with the BIA by passing its own rules for people wanting to open shop on the reservation. The Navajo Nation now has 23 requirements, many of which duplicate the current 34 approvals the BIA requires for a business-site lease.

In its resolution, the council expanded that to include home site, grazing and other types of leases except for minerals, such as coal.

Congress allowed tribes to lease restricted tribal lands for business purposes starting in 1955, following the BIA's rules. The BIA's regulations were the standard for more than three decades, until the tribe began asserting its sovereignty to take over the process.

Navajo Nation President Kelsey Begaye said the change will greatly reduce the number of permits and approvals needed to get a business-site lease in the future.

"We are looking at 12 steps or less," he said. The steps have not been publicly revealed yet.

Thomas Christie of the Navajo Attorney General's Office opposed the change on the grounds that the Division of Economic Development doesn't do the job it is supposed to with the tribe's requirements.

Delegate James Bilagody, of Coal Mine Mesa and Tuba City, provided a different twist to the situation.

"The Navajo Nation criticizes the federal government, but we would perpetuate the very same thing on our people by promulgating our regulations" by riding roughshod over local wishes at the chapter level, he said.

The chairman of the council's Economic Development Committee, David John, of Aneth, Mexican Water and Red Mesa, said the request is only to gain Congress's authorization for the tribe to set up its own rules as the exclusive standards, rather than sharing them with the BIA.

"Our own regulations will come back to the council," John said. "Then the 110 chapters can have their say in the regulations to be adopted."

Tony Skrelunas, director of the Division of Economic Development, told delegates the Tulalip Tribe has already obtained such a change in federal law. Skrelunas said the Washington state tribe cut its approval time in half, and this helped it become competitive in a competitive market.

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Bengals play host to Ravens Saturday

Alan Arthur
Sports Editor

GALLUP — The Gallup Bengal baseball team is going to find exactly where they are at in terms of the top teams in the district and in the state.

The Bengals face the Rio Grande Ravens, currently ranked No. 2 in the Albuquerque Journal poll, in a district doubleheader on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. at Gallup High School.

Gallup, which lost a 14-7 non-district contest to Eldorado on Wednesday, is sitting at 7-5 overall and 1-1 in the district.
The Ravens bring in a host of top players to face the Bengals...

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Milan corrects meetings violation

Tom Purdom
Staff Writer

MILAN — Milan Village trustees Thursday corrected a New Mexico Open Meetings Act violation which occurred last Aug. 4 after being ordered to do so by state Assistant Attorney General Lawrence Otero.

The trustees illegally discussed a service contract with a company in executive session on Aug. 4 but called the discussion "personnel matters."

According to the law, action taken after such an illegal session is invalid, and Otero ordered Milan to vote on the issue again to correct it...

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Unlimited terms tabled by council

Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation Council decided Thursday to table a vote on unlimited terms for school, farm and land boards, making it doubtful that two-term incumbents will be able to run this year.

By a 46-30-2 vote, the council tabled until its July session a proposal to change the election code to remove the two-term limit for membership on the boards plus the Navajo Board of Election Supervisors.

With the normal filing deadlines long since passed, the tabled resolution would have allowed write-in candidates in August so that incumbents would have qualified...

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New planner tackles water, roads issues

Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Curtis Schrader may be new to Gallup, but he's no rookie when it comes to tackling the region's crucial water and transportation issues.

Only on the job for three weeks, the new regional planner for the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments says he already is working on two water planning efforts.

The two plans include the Region 6 water plan, which encompasses most of McKinley and Cibola counties, and the city of Farmington water plan...

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New Mexico Legislature
Lawmakers pass school package

Walter Howerton Jr.
Santa Fe Bureau

SANTA FE — After two regular legislative sessions and two special sessions, lawmakers have tried to do something about a lawsuit by McKinley and Cibola county school districts.

The 10-year, $600 million school construction funding package passed in answer to a Zuni, Gallup-McKinley County and Grants/Cibola County suit over school construction funding probably was the most important piece of business affecting the Gallup area passed during the special session.

Whether it is enough to meet the demands of District Judge Joseph Rich and keep the state out of the clutches of the court remains to be seen...

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Navajos court tourists

Nancy Watson
Diné Bureau

GALLUP — The Navajo tourism office is aggressively pursuing new approaches to win the eye and capture the dollars of summer tourists.

"Tourism is a viable means to boost economic development on the reservation," said Kathie Curly, public information officer and marketing coordinator for the tribe's tourism office. "It's a clean industry and everyone can participate."

Curly is charged with getting the word out about the reservation. To do that, she is promoting the reservation and forming alliances with organizations and other tribes interested in promoting the area...

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Navajo Department faces crunch

Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Director of the Navajo Department of Fish and Wildlife Gloria Tom says that her department is facing financial woes in light of the recent budget crisis the Navajo Nation is dealing with.

"We realized that we can't do everything," said the 37-year-old Tom who became the first female director to head the Navajo Department of Fish and Wildlife nearly two years ago. "We can't continue to do everything with the limited resources we have. We're asking questions about what's more important. We're defining our priorities. We've come a long ways since our crisis several years ago. We've survived what took place. Despite the obstacles and the turmoil since then we've moved in a positive direction..."

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Deaths

Leroy John Young

NAZLINI, Ariz. — Services for Leroy John Young, 32, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday April 7, at the Latter Day Saints Church in Chinle, Ariz. Hanson Smith will officiate. Private disposition will be in family land, Nazlini, Ariz.

Young died April 3 in Phoenix, Ariz. He was born July 2, 1967 in Ganado, Ariz. into the Bitter Water People Clan for the Many Goats People Clan.

Young attended school in Provo, Utah and at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Ariz. He served in the U.S. Army during Persian Gulf and Desert Storm. He enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his son, Delrando Charley of Cottonwood, Ariz.; daughter, Jessica L. Young of Salt Lake City, Utah; mother, Irene T. Yazzie of Nazlini, Ariz.; brother, Lorenzo Tsosie of Phoenix, Ariz.; sisters, Tina A. Tsosie and Jennifer Denetchee both of Nazlini, Ariz., Ernestine Hooke of San Carlos, Ariz.; and maternal grandparents, Edward and Elouise Tsosie of Nazlini, Ariz.

Young was preceded in death by father, Keith Y. Young; and brother, Christopher Young.

Pallbearers will be Daniel Sanisya, Alvin Denetchee, Lorenzo Tsosie, Donald Crawford, Samuel Sanisya III, and Ervin Tsosie.
The family will receive relatives and friends at Edward Tsosie Residence.

Tse Bonito Mortuary of Tse Bonito is in charge of the arrangements.

Tyrone Robert Day

THOREAU — Services for Tyrone Robert Day, 17, will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, April 8 at the Latter Day Saints Church in Thoreau. Burial will follow at the Thoreau Community Cemetery in Thoreau.

Visitation will be held from 8:30-9:30 a.m., Saturday, April 8 at the church.

Day died March 30 in Thoreau. He was born Oct. 3, 1982 in Crownpoint into the Folded Arms People Clan for the Coyote People Clan.

Day was a junior at Thoreau High School. He was employed as a carpenter helper with Lenzmeier Construction in Mesa, Ariz. His hobbies included camping, fishing and hunting.

Survivors include his parents, Robert Day and Lucy Day, both of Casamero Lake; brothers, Brent C. Day, Greg T. Day and Kurt B. Day, all of Casamero Lake; sisters, Nicole Lynn Day of Casamero Lake; and grandparents, Harry Tolth of Continental Divide, Dorothy Tolth of Borrego Pass and Henrietta Day and Joseph F. Day, both of Hotevilla, Ariz.

Pallbearers will be Ronnie Tapaha, Brent Day, Adrian Tolth, Aaron Tapaha, Larry Tolth and Ronald Y. Hood.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Timmy J. Tolth

BORREGO PASS — Services for Timmy J. Tolth, 16, will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, April 8 at the Latter Day Saints Church in Thoreau. Burial will follow at the Thoreau Community Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 8:30-9:30 a.m., Saturday, April 8 at the church.

Tolth died March 30 in Thoreau. He was born Aug. 4, 1983 in Gallup into the Two Who Came To The Water People Clan for the Under His Cover People Clan.

Tolth attended Smith Lake Elementary School and was still attending Thoreau High School at the time of his death.

Survivors include his parents, Jimmy Tolth and Yvonne Tolth, both of Borrego Pass; brothers, Cornelius Tolth of Barstow, Calif., Quentin Tolth and Andreas Ray Tolth, both of Borrego Pass; sisters, Jaine Tolth and Shelby Tolth, both of Borrego Pass; and grandparents, Harry Tolth of Continental Divide, Dorothy Tolth of Borrego Pass and Ada Haley of Iyanbito.

Pallbearers will be Eleano Rivis, Quentin Tolth, Andreas Tolth, Avis Tolth, Alex Yazzie and Jason Tom.

The family will receive friends and family after the burial services at the Casamero Lake Chapter House.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Crystal Dawn Walters

ALBUQUERQUE — Services for Crystal Dawn Walters, 14, will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, April 8 at the Navajo Baptist Church in Crystal. The Rev. Jimmie Walters will officiate. Burial will follow on private family cemetery in Crystal.

Walters died April 4 in Albuquerque. She was born April 27, 1985 in Chinle, Ariz. into the Salt People Clan for the Pitahuerat Pawnee.

Survivors include her parents, Anthony Walters of Albuquerque and Devera Martinez-Clough of Bullhead City, Ariz.; brothers, Xavier Clough of Bullhead City, Ariz. and Edison Martinez-Walters of Bullhead City, Ariz.; sister, Tina Walters of Albuquerque; and grandparents, Anna Walters and Harry Walters, both of Tsaile, Ariz., Manuel Martinez of Oceanside, Calif. and Mae McGlaslin of Enid, Okla.

Walters was preceded in death by her grandparents, Amelia Harvey, and Kee Chee Harvey.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

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