Jackie Shutiva
Wedding Vase

clay
7.5 x 6.5 x 6.5 in.
2009.71
Gift of Elvin and Corrine Heiberg

Crucial to the consummation of marriages in Pueblo villages, wedding vases symbolize the unification of a bride and groom through various stylistic details and ceremonial rituals. Jackie Shutiva, born into the Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico and member of the Sun Clan and Yellow Corn Child Clan, was taught traditional Acoma pottery methods by her mother Stella Shutiva at the age of 19. Following the methods of her ancestors surrounding the Rio Grande region, Shutiva adopts the black-on-white prehistoric style of Pueblo pottery, a traditional technique that was overshadowed by the multi-color, polychrome motif. Indigenous Pueblo traditions are intrinsically tied to natural resources as symbols for life. Materials such as clay and vegetation are used with the intention that they pay homage to what the Earth has provided. The Acoma method uses clay in raw rock form, along with old pottery shards to prepare the foundation of the vase. Either vegetal or mineral paint made by local resources creates the base for the paint that is used along the handle of the vase. The two spouts represent the couple; one the bride and the other, the groom. The double-spouted vase is then united by a looped handle that represents the unity of the two individuals through marriage, and the space created between the necks and the handle symbolize the circle of life. Ceremonially, the wedding vase contains a “love potion” that is prepared by a medicine man prior to the service. During the union both individuals are offered to drink the sacred liquid through their separate spouts, and nearing the end of the ceremony they collectively drink from the vase together. Rituals claim that if the couple manages to drink the liquid without spilling, then their bond will remain strong and spiritually connected. The wedding vase not only represents the unity between husband and wife, but the inherent beauty and spirit of the earth that is manifested through its natural resources.

Shivani Vyas ‘17
Lasting Legacy 2017