Marie Toya
Jemez potter Marie Toya, a member of the Water Clan, was born in 1956. She began making pottery in 1972. Marie comes from a family of potters; she is the niece of pottery mask maker Fannie Loretto, and storyteller potters Lupe Lucero and Alma Concha. Her sister Judy Toya is also a storyteller potter. They learned the art from their mother, Mary E. Toya.
She says her favorite time is when she is making each piece, "It makes me think of what to give each child and what the Grandfather or Grandmother is telling them.
Marie uses all natural materials-she digs the clay from the Jemez Pueblo, uses natural slips and fires her pottery outdoors. She specializes in storytellers and nativity sets. Her storytellers have become a favorite of collectors.
