Desert Hawk Books

 

Portraits of Clay
Potters of Mata Ortíz

Sandra S. Smith

 

 

Paperback
65 pages
35 duotones
5.5" x 6.5"

Quantity: $10.95 & S/H  

 

Not long ago, pottery was a lost art in Chihuahua, Mexico. But in the 1970s, near the ruins of Casas Grandes, an art revolution was born. Inspired by ancient pottery fragments from a tradition that had disappeared before the arrival of the first Europeans, a self-taught woodcutter-turned-artist reinvented an entire ceramic technology. Today Casas Grandes pottery, made by hand from local clays and mineral colors by a handful of artists, claims high prices and sets the standard for contemporary pottery.

Photographer Sandra Smith traveled to Mata Ortíz to photograph the potters and to record their reflections on their work. Her portraits document their techniques—collecting and preparing the clay, forming by hand, sanding, and painting. They also capture intimate moments between artists and their art.

For anyone who has ever admired Casas Grandes pottery, Portraits of Clay is a beautiful introduction to the potters and their work.

"Cushing's work is a contribution to far more than any mere interest of our curiosity or pastime; it is a lasting part of our American heritage."—The Nation

Sandra S. Smith is a photographer living in Tucson, Arizona. Her exhibition on the potters of Mata Ortíz is currently on display at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.