Echoes of the Ancient Ones

Technique & Style

Folk, Pottery

Figures

Laman, Lemuel, Nephi, Sam

Symbols

gold plates

Notes

Excerpt from book: The artist explains that this pot relates the story of the Book of Mormon peoples to her own people, the Navajo. The gold plates of the Book of Mormon appear in the center of a whirlwind with clouds spreading out from two places bringing rain and prosperity. Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi travel to the promised land on whirling bamboo logs like the whirling logs of the Nightway Chant. Their promised land is shown as the four sacred mountains of the American Southwest. Two of the sacred plants (corn and squash) and clouds indicate happiness, peace, and prosperity. The plumed serpent, a common symbol for Christ in the Americas, also comes out of the whirlwind. McKelvey's pottery is unlike either the traditional Navajo or Hopi pottery. It represents a unique blending of old and new traditions with the additional influence of the gospel of Jesus Christ.The usual Navajo pottery is crude and utilitarian, while Hopi pottery is finely formed, polished, and painted. Hopis and Navajos were traditional enemies. At Brigham Young University, McKelvey became friends with Hopis who taught her new pottery techniques. Many of her designs are based on Navajo sandpaintings. However, since completed sandpaintings have sacred meanings for Navajos, McKelvey has only adapted and borrowed elements from these ancient symbols.

Exhibition History:

• “Work & Wonder: 200 Years of Latter-day Saint Art,” Church History Museum, September 26, 2024 – March 1, 2025.

Church Name

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints