Linda Askan

Santa Clara Pueblo

Linda Askan

Half Navajo and half Santa Claran, Linda's Tewa name is Jo Povi, which means Cactus Flower. It was given to her by her grandmother Adelaide Silva (Lala) Sisneros. Both her grandmother and her mother, Marie Sisneros Askan, taught Linda how to create pottery the traditional way.

Linda graduated from Espanola High School, then attended the Institute for American Indian Arts in Santa Fe. Somewhere along the way she became a respiratory therapy technician and worked in several local hospitals before deciding to go into making pottery full time. She has since taught her daughters, Diana Halsey and Rose Halsey, the traditional way to make pottery.

Linda creates traditional red and black Santa Clara pottery - the final color depending on how she fires each piece.