The clay sculptures of Nora Naranjo-Morse have been critically hailed for both their humor and their blending of traditional and modern styles. Now with Mud Woman she calls on her equal talent as a poet, juxtaposing clay and words to capture not only the essence of the creative process but also the satisfactions and complications of what it means to be a Pueblo Indian woman in the late twentieth century.
All of these poems and ceramics testify to the artist's willingness to question, to experiment, to take chances, and to grow. . . . We come away from this book with a deep appreciation for the making and knowing that lie behind these ceramic and poetic creations.' —Native Peoples
'Naranjo-Morse's poems . . . have a power arising from the immediacy of heartfelt experience. . . . This volume certainly walks in beauty with a sculpted balance between its two artistic media.' —Western American Literature
'Mud Woman is a delightful and entertaining effort exploring the wonder of life and the joy of living in a unique and powerful way.' —Chronicle-Journal/Times-News (Canada)
'Both moving and delightful. . . . A fine and welcome addition to any collection that includes Native American literature' —Booklist
'A wonderfully gentle and imaginative text, brought to life by a skillful artist in an uncommon dialogue of pottery and poems.' —American Book Review
Nora Naranjo-Morse lives and works in Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico. Her work has been widely exhibited and was included in "A Separate Vision," a major show mounted by the Museum of Northern Arizona and appearing at the Smithsonian Institution.
