Shelden Nunez Velarde - Micaceous pottery - New Mexico

Shelden Nuñez-Velarde (Jicarilla Apache) is known for his micaceous pottery.  He specializes in hand-coiling traditional Jucarilla Apache pottery and belongs to the clan named “Ollero” a spanish word meaning “maker of pots and pans.” He is descendant of O’Ha Montoya, a micaceous utilitarian potter of the plains and mountains surrounding Cimarron, NM, Nuñez-Velarde follows a legacy of potters. Having garnered interest in his craft at an early age, he trained under established Jicarilla Apache potters Lydia Pesata and Felipe Ortega.

As his ancestors did, Shelden gathers the clay and slip from Jicarilla clay sources, typically found at high elevations. He soaks and cleans the clay, mixes, hand coils, shapes, sands, polishes then fires the pot outdoors, using pine or cedar wood.The pottery he produces is traditional, functional, and contemporary.

Nuñez-Velarde has received national recognition and awards for his work for more than twenty-five years. He demonstrates his craft and teaches workshops throughout the Southwest and is an accomplished bead-worker and basket-maker in addition to his standing as a potter.