Ashley Browning, Pojoaque Pueblo Artist Impresses Judges

 Turtle Basket

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By Eric Ulibarri
for PojoaqueNews.com

Looking at at one of Ashley Browning’s small turtles or bowls, one would find it hard to imagine that these intricate baskets are actually made from pine needles and sinew.  Ashley who is also known by her Tewa name of Puganini Te’eeji or Yellow Butterfly, is a 17 year old senior at Pojoaque Valley High School.  Considering she is fairly new to her craft, Ashley has returned from several art shows with numerous awards.  She received both 1^st and 2^nd place awards at both the 2010 Indian Market in Santa Fe as well as the Eight Northern Pueblo Arts and Crafts Show in Ohkay Owingeh.  She was also successful in last year’s art shows and continues to impress judges at every show that she displays her work.

Ashley, a Pueblo of Pojoaque tribal member, comes from a long history of well-known Santa Clara Pueblo Potters.  She learned her craft from a student at a Basket Makers Gathering held at the Pueblo of Pojoaque Poeh Cultural Center and Museum.  She has created a niche in the market, with her pieces being considerably smaller than many other pine needle baskets currently available.  Most of her pieces are less than 1-inch in diameter and require plenty of patience and delicate work to complete. 

Creating one of these intricate baskets first involves the gathering of the pine needles which Ashley prefers to gather from within the Santa Clara Canyon.  After gathering the pine needles, Ashley uses sinew and a sewing needle to slowly wrap and coil the pine needles together until she achieves the look she is going for.  When asked if she finds her skill to be difficult, she said that due to her experience in sewing with her mother it came quite naturally.  Her small baskets take on different forms, which can vary from small turtles to bowls with lids or even handles.

Browning, who was the recipient of the Northern New Mexico Art Catalog Scholarship plans on studying Computer Engineering after graduation and possibly attending the University of New Mexico.    For more information, Ashley’s pine needle baskets can be found at the New Mexico Art Catalog website at www.nnmac.com.