[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 171 (Tuesday, October 16, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1416]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CONGRATULATING CARLOS LAATE

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 16, 2018

  Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today 
to congratulate Carlos Laate of Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico for his role 
in the Pueblo Pottery Mug project and his 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.
  Mr. Laate hails from a long line of artists in the Pueblo of Zuni. 
Motivated by his mother and grandmother, who were renowned potters, he 
has been making pottery for more than thirty years.
  Mr. Laate's work finds inspiration in the ancient potsherds near his 
home. It was his grandparents who helped him discover meaning in the 
images and designs on these ancient works of art, and he strives to 
incorporate the metaphors, blessings, and prayers from them into his 
own pieces of pottery.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud Carlos Laate 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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