[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 133 (Friday, August 10, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1142-E1143]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO FREDERICA ANTONIO

                                 ______
                                 

                      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 Frederica Antonio of Acoma 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.
  Growing up in the Pueblo of Acoma, Frederica's intricately designed 
work is a continuation of her long family tradition of hand-coiling and 
painting pottery. Much of the symbolism found on her pottery is 
connected to Mother Earth and prayers for rain.
  Frederica's work heavily relies on the resources of the land. She 
hand-paints her vessels with fine-tipped brushes she fashions from the 
stems of yucca plants. She uses these traditional methods, taught to 
her by her mother-in-law, Mildred Antonio, to create her contemporary 
pieces.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud Frederica Antonio 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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