Maria Martinez--Sydney Natkiel

 Maria Martinez was a Native American who became very well known for her black on black pottery. She learned at a young age from her aunt, where she began to make dishes for her play house. Maria fell in love with black pottery. It was something about the smothering a cool fire with dried cow manure trapped with smoke and than using a special type of paint on the top of the surface. The combination on trapping the smoke and the low temperature resulted in turning the red clay pot black. Although she took credit for making the pottery, she could not take credit for the paintings on the pottery. Her husband did the paintings and they made a great team!