Bear

Louise Goodman, Bear, 1990, fired clay with piñon pitch, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase made possible by Mrs. Gibson Fahnestock, 1997.124.154
Copied Louise Goodman, Bear, 1990, fired clay with piñon pitch, 22 1⁄4 x 10 5⁄8 x 10 7⁄8 in. (56.5 x 27.0 x 27.6 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase made possible by Mrs. Gibson Fahnestock, 1997.124.154

Artwork Details

Title
Bear
Artist
Date
1990
Location
Dimensions
22 1⁄4 x 10 5⁄8 x 10 7⁄8 in. (56.5 x 27.0 x 27.6 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase made possible by Mrs. Gibson Fahnestock
Mediums
Mediums Description
fired clay with piñon pitch
Classifications
Subjects
  • Animal — bear
Object Number
1997.124.154
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1997.124.154

Artwork Description

Ceramist Louise Goodman started making animals and other decorative pieces in the 1980s when she noticed a decline in demand for her functional clay objects. Creating animal figures was common among Navajo potters at the time and Goodman became well known for her playful bears. The bears, with their stubby limbs and exaggerated torsos, became Goodman's most popular pieces. She often added an unexpected detail—a slot in the back to make the bear into a piggy bank. This transformation from figurine to piggy bank is especially fitting as the bear often represents power and plenitude in the Navajo culture.