Mata Ortiz Juan
Quezada Casa Grande
Talavera Folk
Art Oaxacan
The art of
creating beautiful ceramics has been cultivated for centuries by the
Mexican people . Simply by looking at the magnificent ceramics created
by pre-Columbian civilizations we can see that this land
possesses an extraordinary artistic heritage. Contemporary
Mexican Artists have drawn upon this legacy and re-invented ancestral
techniques, such as the coil method used in Mata Ortiz pottery
also known as Casas Grandes. Talavera or Majolica
from Colonial times, as well as the Japanese method used on our
Stoneware pottery. (from Fine
Mexican
Ceramics Art Gallery)
A
glance at the History of Mexican Ceramics
Mata
Ortiz Pottery
 |
"Mata
Ortiz
pottery,
also known as Casas
Grandes pottery, is
one of the finest ceramics in the world.
Led by Juan
Quezada, the entire
pueblo of Mata Ortiz create
outstanding handmade,
coiled pots or ollas,
following centuries old
methods. Inspired by the Paquimé,
Casas Grandes ceramics, the potters of Mata Ortiz
create contemporary works
of art, often incorporating Mimbres designs shared
by the Southwest, Native
American cultures. |
This
gallery showcases the best in handmade Mata Ortiz pottery.
The first gallery includes
work by Master Potter Juan Quezada. Art
pieces by a
wide variety of talented Mata
Ortiz potters
are included in the next 10 galleries."
(From
Fine Mexican Ceramic Art Gallery)
"Using ancient
techniques and traditional methods, each pottery is individual and
unique. Exquisite thin walled pottery from Native Clays (not poured
ceramic), each pottery is hand formed without the use of a potter's
wheel and stone polished to a beautiful burnish often with luminous
finishes. Hand painted geometric motifs with Mimbreno influences are
frequently combined with innovative elegance. Paints are naturally
occurring pigments formulated from mineral deposits mined locally and
applied with handmade brushes consisting of two or three strands of
human hair, often that of a child or even a pet. The pottery is pit
fired in the old traditional way, one at a time, on the ground, in a
fire built of cow dung or cottonwood bark. No kiln is used. The White
Clays are collectable because the clay is more difficult to find, to
formulate and to fire without 'smoking'. Mezcla Clay (literally mixed
up) are two or more colors of clay mixed together to give a marbled
effect. The collectable Black on Black finishes are created by firing
the pottery twice in a smothered fire deprived of oxygen." (This
information is from MotomoGallery)
 |
Tree
of Life by Tiburcio Soteno – tells the life of Juan Quezada
. Trees of
life used to have as a central theme the Garden of Eden.
Nowadays many other stories are recounted through this splendid
clay sculptures
Work
by Juan Quezada Be sure to view
all of the Galleries – many interesting pieces in the sold
gallery. |
Brief
biography Of Juan Quezada - Gypsy Gallery. Some
examples
of his work (site
was down last I checked)
Examples
of Juan Quezada from Andrea Fisher Fine Pottery
Brief
history of Mata Ortiz From
Mata Ortiz Pottery. Several artists - including Juan Quezada -
represented. Documentary video available.
THE
POT THAT JUAN BUILT by
Nancy Andrews-Goebel and illustrated by David Diaz. Written in the
style of "The House That Jack Built," this cleverly crafted
tale tells the story of Juan Quezada, the premier potter in Mexico.
Preview pages available.
Pottery
Classes available Juan Quezada and Michael Wisner August 19 - 28
2003. At Anderson Ranch Colorado. Come join Mexico's Artist of the
Year Juan Quezada and his fourteen year apprentice Michael Wisner for
two weeks of clay digging, hand building, burnishing, painting, tool
making and outdoor bon-firing.
Video
available: Mata Ortiz Today See contemporary
potter Michael Wisner
Some
contemporary potters
Motomo Gallery
More on Casa
Grandes Pottery [top
of page]
 |
Casas Grandes
pottery was first produced about 1000 years ago in an area of
Northern Mexico called Paquime. Although at first the pots were crude
utilitarian vessels, their style, shape and quality transformed
through trade with the Hohakam and Anazasi. Designs were
inspired by the environment including bird and leaf patterns
stylized by each artist. |
Logan
Museum Casa Grandes Pottery . Information about the people, a
timeline and pottery examples.
Casa
Grandes Pottery Contemporary
examples from Chimayo Trading and Mercantile
Casa
Grande Ruins Find out all about the Casa Grande Ruins - A national
Monument in Arizona. Pottery of this same style has been found there.
The people of Mexico would have lived the same way.
Mexican Folk
Art (more to come)
Mexican
folk Art – Tree of Life. From Fine Mexican Ceramic Art Gallery
Spanish
Talavera
[top
of page]
Talavera
Gallery See the work of contemporary potter, Fernanda Gamboa. From
Fine Mexican Ceramic Art Gallery. Learn
about the art of Talavera.
Oaxacan
Ceramics
[top
of page]
Manos
de Oaxaca Pottery of Oaxaca in south of Mexico There is a place in
the far south of Mexico where the potters of a thousand years still
work.
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