Storyteller Figurine by Mary & Leonard Trujillo Cochiti Pueblo — Image by kenne
Mary and Leonard Trujillo were among the premier figurine potters at Cochiti Pueblo. Very few potters attempt large figurines anymore,
but the Trujillos did, and they did a fine job at it. They had been a pottery-making team since the 1980s.
Mary Tapia (1937- ) was originally from Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo. She married Leonard Trujillo (1936-2017) of Cochiti Pueblo, moved there, and learned to make storyteller figurines from her mother-in-law, Helen Cordero. They taught their daughter Geraldine Trujillo, and it shows in her work. Mary and Leonard’s storytellers are represented in prestigious collections such as the Heard Museum and the School of American Research. — Source: adobegallery.com
“. . . one twin began to talk. Then the other. They talked quietly, then more quietly.
Everyone grew especially quiet and listened. They listen very carefully.
The twins talked abou† clouds they had seen. They talked about rainbows.
They spoke of thunder and lightning. They talked about the fresh smell of wet earth
and the green things that grow soon after the rain. And pretty soon, one twin blew
in his hands, and a cloud arose and grew very large. Soon it was raining! Then it began to
thunder and to flash lightning. It rained hard, and everyone ran happily into their homes.
The twins were the first Kossa and became leaders of the village for many good years.”
— from Pueblo Stories and Storytellers by Mark Bahti
