NM Potters and Clay Artists: 2008 Ghost Ranch Workshop

New Mexico Potters and Clay Artists

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2009 Ghost Ranch Workshop

Mata Ortiz Pottery with Pabla Talavera Quezada

Friday, Aug 28 to Sunday, Aug 30, 2009

Come and learn about Mata Ortiz pottery in a workshop where you will experience making your own pot, painting and firing using natural materials like the potters from Mata Ortiz. Spend the weekend learning the techniques of the Mata Ortiz potters from one of their own artists, traveling here from her home in Mexico.

Enjoy the magnificent New Mexico landscape at the rustic and scenic Ghost ranch Retreat Center near Abiquiu, New Mexico. The clay facilities have been refurbished and upgraded and provide comfortable outdoor setting.

Pabla Talavera Quezada is Juan Quezada’s niece and learned from her mother, Lydia Quezada (*Juan Quezada’s sister and an excellent potter herself), to make pottery in the village’s modern day tradition. She comes here to demonstrate her building techniques, surface decorating and firing techniques. She will share her materials with us, and guide us through her process. The workshop starts Friday afternoon, when we will construct a pot under her instruction, then decorate pots she will bring (because the pots we make will not be dry enough) and fire them in a pit fire on Sunday.

The New Mexico Potters and Clay Artists have been holding ceramic art workshops at Ghost Ranch for over 35 years. In 1983 Juan Quezada joined us for the workshop. We welcome Pabla and look forward to seeing how the Mata Ortiz methods have changed.

Historical note

In the 1960s Juan Quezada, a local resident of a small northern Mexican pueblo situated next to the prehistoric city of Paquime, puzzled over pottery shards that he found in the area. His curiosity let him to rediscover the ancient ceramic tradition of the sophisticated, but lost Paquime culture. He taught himself how to recreate the pottery and designs using local clays, plants and minerals. Eventually his work was discovered and appreciated by collectors and his renown grew internationally. He shared his knowledge with his family and his community. Now, many potters in that community, which includes Mata Ortiz and Casas Grandes, are making this amazing pottery that has its roots in the Paquime culture. For more information about Mata Ortiz Pottery see:

See additional works by Pabla and her mother, Lydia, at www.chimayotrading.com

Mata Ortiz Pottery

Mata Ortiz Calendar of Events (by Spencer MacCallum)