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Michael McCullough (Native American, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, b. 1951). "Cochiti Storyteller" watercolor on paper, n.d. Signed with title in lower left. A delightful watercolor by Choctaw artist Michael McCullough depicting a Cochiti pottery sculpture of a storyteller accompanied by an Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) painted pottery sherd. Seated, the pottery figure opens her mouth, angling her head upwards with symbols lightly rendered around her, serving as visual representations of her stories. Petite children sit upon her legs, lap, and arms, some seemingly listening to her tales in delight, while others climb up her shoulders, recalling the phrase "standing on the shoulders of giants" and perhaps alluding to how these small children will be propped up by the wisdom conveyed in her words. Size of watercolor: 19" W x 22.25" H (48.3 cm x 56.5 cm); of pottery sherd: 2.3" W x 2.1" H (5.8 cm x 5.3 cm); of frame: 35.5" W x 41.5" H (90.2 cm x 105.4 cm)

The pottery sherd beneath the watercolor is intricately painted with black-on-white decoration of linear motifs and may also play into the overall theme of the piece serving as a fragment of the past that has been carried into the present, much like a story.

Storytellers were originally created in 1964 by Cochiti artist Helen Cordero, who created female figures with children in their arms and called these dolls "Singing Mothers." They quickly gained in popularity and many other artists in Cochiti started making them as well. Helen eventually made a male figure, modeled after her grandfather, Santiago Quintana, with children clinging to his back and in his lap. The doll had an open mouth as he was telling stories to the children as in the example seen here. As time went on, more and more artists started making their own storyteller dolls, each adapting their own unique style and implementing their own beliefs based on their heritage. Today, Cochiti "storyteller" pottery refers to any human or animal figure that is covered with smaller children or animals. This style has become one of the most collectible and sought after forms of clay art. Among the most notable artists making storytellers today are Carol Lucero Gachupin, Mary Lucero, Linda Fragua and Chrislyn Fragua of Jemez Pueblo and Stella Teller of Isleta Pueblo.

From the artist's website: "Michael and Stephen McCullough (twin brothers) are well known throughout the Southwest over the past 30 years for their strong, vibrant paintings. As Native American artists (members of the Choctaw Nation roll #001-027-211 & #001-217-212) they specialize in original paintings of authentic images reflecting the culture and history of the Southwest. Their works may be seen at several galleries in the New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado areas as well as Santa Fe Indian Market, Heard Museum Indian Market (Phoenix), Phippen Western Artists show (Prescott, AZ), Sharlot Hall Museum (Prescott, AZ) and others."

Please note this item may fall under the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act and may not be eligible for international shipping. Native American, Alaska Native, & Native Hawaiian objects are only eligible to ship within the United States.

Please note that this item is heavy/oversized. Please inquire about shipping prior to bidding.

Provenance: private Lakewood, Colorado, USA collection

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#185199

Signed with title in lower left. Fit with custom matte and frame; has not been examined outside of glass. Painting and frame appear to be in excellent overall condition. Pottery sherd is fragment of a larger piece. Old label and suspension wire on verso for display.