[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 133 (Friday, August 10, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO MARTHA ROMERO

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                      HON. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 10, 2018

  Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today 
to congratulate Martha Romero of Nambe Pueblo in New Mexico for her 
role in the Pueblo Pottery Mug project and her success as a Native 
artist.
  The Pueblo Pottery Mug project started as a collaboration between 
five Pueblo artists and the first Pueblo-owned Starbucks in New Mexico. 
The mugs were first sold in 2016 at the Starbucks store in Albuquerque. 
Each mug was hand-crafted by a different Pueblo artist to celebrate the 
opening of the new store and to symbolize the collaboration between New 
Mexico Pueblos and Starbucks. After quickly selling out of the unique 
mugs--selling over 6,000 mugs--the Shumakolowa gift shop collaborated 
with the artists to sell mugs at their location in the Indian Pueblo 
Cultural Center.
  Martha learned the practices of pottery-making from her mother, Rosa 
Alice Baca. After taking a hiatus from pottery, she took up the work 
once again, an experience which helped her reconnect to an art form 
closely tied to her Pueblo, tradition, culture, and mother. In the 
words of Martha, ``I am spiritually awakened when creating pottery! It 
brings me closer to my mother who has completed the circle. In 
relearning what she taught me, I find a connection to my mother and our 
beloved Nambe.''
  Martha's unique unpainted pieces demonstrate the clay's natural shine 
and have a beautiful connection with her Indian name Kwahtenbay, which 
means rainbow. Using hand-gathered micaceous clay and traditional 
coiling methods, she crafts simple yet elegant designs that echo 
traditional utilitarian Nambe techniques.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud Martha Romero for being a part of the Pueblo 
Pottery Mug project. This project has given the community, as well as 
visitors to New Mexico, an opportunity to appreciate usable pieces of 
art that are inspired by Native culture and traditions. I look forward 
to seeing this project continue to flourish and support talented Native 
artists from Pueblos throughout New Mexico.

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