RSS All Items
RSS SearchBlog
-
Elí Navarrete
11:35 AM PST, 10/28/2008
Echoes of Nature: Ocean Waves by Various Artists
- Buy Now!
- $3.87
- Ends:
- 12:19 PM PST, 4/5/2110
- Time Left:
Elí Navarrete Ortiz has been potting for 14 years. Soon after moving to Mata Ortiz and studying with his uncles Macario Ortiz, and Osbaldo Ortiz, and his brother César, it became apparent this young man had real talent.
Now known as one of the best artists in the region, Elí explains some of the meanings behind his complex pottery designs and color combinations.
Here is Elí Navarrete: To SHARE MATA ORTIZ BITS, simply copy, paste and send the following link to enable your friend, colleague, or family member to receive a free subscription: http://www.mata-ortiz-pottery-village.commataortizbits.html -
Macario Ortiz
1:16 PM PST, 9/23/2008
Macario Ortiz Estrada is a Mata Ortiz master potter who is legendary for his innovation and creativity. He and Ruben Lozano revolutionized black-ware technology when they discovered the benefits of graphite applied to their work.
Macario continues to push the envelope of creativity. He has taught and exhibited in the USA and Mexico including Ensenada galleries, City College in Santa Barbara, CA, workshops in Silver City, New Mexico, University of New Mexico Art Museum, and in the Exhibits USA Potters of Mata Ortiz traveling exhibition. He is featured on page 130 of Walter Park's The Miracle of Mata Ortiz, and on page 127 of Susan Lowell's The Many Faces of Mata Ortiz.
We caught up with Macario and his wife Nena in their home and gallery in the Barrio Porvenir neighborhood of Mata Ortiz. Here are some of their comments and pottery masterpieces:
To SHARE MATA ORTIZ BITS, simply copy, paste and
send the following link to enable your friend, colleague, or family member to receive a free subscription:
-
Reynaldo Quezada: Juan's Youngest Brother
1:39 PM PST, 9/8/2008
Reynaldo Quezada struck me as a quiet artist. I wasn't able to get
Reynaldo is regarded as "one of the best natural artists of the early group" (Spencer MacCallum), and "his best work was on par with that of Juan, Nicolas, or Lydia" (Walter Parks in The Miracle of Mata Ortiz, page 137). His work has been shown in many prestigious exhibitions.
In the following video we see examples of his glistening textured finishes, which he says he has been creating for approximately the last 22 years. He also demonstrates the outdoor firing of his pottery.
Here is Reynaldo Quezada:
Click on "Comments" below to comment.Click here to subscribe to this mini letter
-
Meet Fito Tena and His Art
10:35 AM PST, 8/25/2008
Adolfo "Fito" Tena Sandoval is the brother of Gerardo Tena, the son of Roberto "Beto" and Sofia Tena. He is well known as the original developer of a rich texture style body that contrasts with a petite polished neck and opening.
Fito won 3rd place in the 2008 government sponsored Mata Ortiz Fonart pottery "concurso" or competition in the category of "New Entries".
We had the pleasure of meeting up with Fito in his home in Mata Ortiz in June this year. The following video interview is a result of that meeting. Before and after the interview, there are brief quotes from anthropologist and art historian Spencer MacCallum on the Mata Ortiz phenomenon. Of course Fito Tena is a beneficiary of that phenomenon.
Here is the interview:
-
Visit the Veloz Household
1:50 PM PST, 8/13/2008
Carmen is featured on page 143 of Walter Parks' prominent book The Miracle of Mata Ortiz. According to the book, her full name is Carmela Ledezma de Veloz. She signs simply Carmen Veloz using her first name with her husbands last name since they collaborate together in pottery creation.
Carmen's father was the famous Chihuahuan baseball player Carmelo Ledezma for whom the rodeo and baseball stadium in Mata Ortiz is named. She was mentored in pottery art by Gloria Lozoya.
We were able to interview Carmen, and most of her household, starting with daughter in law Claudia.
Here is the interview:
,
,
SHARE MATA ORTIZ BITS, simply copy, paste and send the following link to enable your friend, colleague, or family member to receive a free subscription:
http://www.mata-ortiz-pottery-village.com/mataortizbits.html -
Have You Met Young Master Moroni Quezada?
12:01 PM PST, 7/31/2008
Mata Ortiz Bits
7-31-08
What a pleasure it was to interview young Moroni Quezada in the home of his parents Lydia Quezada and Rito Talavera. As you will see Moroni had some very interesting comments about art and life. His extraordinary fine art pottery reflects those comments.
Here is the interview:
To subscribe or SHARE MATA ORTIZ BITS, simply copy, paste and send the following link to enable your friend, colleague, or family member to receive a free subscription:
http://www.mata-ortiz-pottery-village.com/mataortizbits.html -
Lydia Quezada
3:02 PM PST, 7/22/2008
Echoes of Nature: Ocean Waves by Various Artists
- Buy Now!
- $3.87
- Ends:
- 12:19 PM PST, 4/5/2110
- Time Left:
I recently caught up with Lydia Quezada in her home in Nuevo Casas Grandes. She was kind enough to grant an interview which you can view below.
Lydia Quezada Celado has been referred to as "the queen of grace", "Juan's best student", and "world class artist". She is the youngest of Juan's eight brothers and sisters. Her husband is Rito Talavera, equally talented, who, along with their accomplished children Moroni and Pabla, collaborates in the creation of fine art pottery.
If you are interested in Lydia's work, there are, at the time of this writing, a couple of very fine examples are being offered on ebay.
Here is the interview:
/>
To COMMENT click on Comments immediately below. -
Interview with Ivonne Olivas
4:01 PM PST, 7/10/2008
Mata Ortiz Bits
7-11-08
I've recently returned from Mata Ortiz where I had the opportunity to video interview Ivonne Olivas. Ivonne does some beautiful work. I just wish our video and interviewing skills matched her artistic talent. Give it a few hundred years.
In future bits we'll have video interviews with other artists, some well known, and some lesser known (and less expensive). We will also have an extensive interview with Spencer MacCallum to see what makes him tick.
Here is the short interview with Ivonne, I hope you enjoy it:
To COMMENT, ask questions, correct information, or to add your insight, click the comments link below.
-
Angel Amaya and Avelina Corona
10:36 AM PST, 6/6/2008
Angel Amaya Mora is married to Avelina Corona. Both are excellent potters with good reputations for fine work.
Angel makes small pots, often in unique shapes such as his seed pots. Some of his current work includes seed pots (flying saucer shapes) that are made from a dark, rich red polished clay. The pot is finished off with a white "icing" that crisscrosses like a delicate tapestry on a hot crossed bun. The stark contrast between the white slip trails and the deep red clay is breath-taking.
Angel Amaya also creates more traditional ollas, such as white or cream wedding pots with sweeping Quezada style lines. These are a throwback to his training from Consolacion Quezada (Juan's older sister). He was also mentored by Consolacion's youngest son Mauro Quezada, and is said to have been heavily influenced by Pilo Mora.
According to Susan Lowell's book The Many Faces of Mata Ortiz, (page 82) "His pots resemble the work of his brother-in-law Jesus Martinez in technique, shape, and design".
Avelina (who is Mauro Quezada's niece) also likes to use contrast for effective design. She was also heavily influenced by Mauro. Much of her current work includes red clay ollas with cream colored insect designs. She makes strong, thin walled ollas on which to paint her magical designs. She makes a lot of the pottery which Angel paints and signs. They make a great artistic team.
Here are a few examples of Angel's current work:
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/5/6/1/2/6/1/webimg/129442223_o.jpg
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/5/6/1/2/6/1/webimg/84870705_o.jpg
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/5/6/1/2/6/1/webimg/79244311_o.jpg
Here are a few examples of Avelina's current work:
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/5/6/1/2/6/1/webimg/107424042_o.jpg
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/5/6/1/2/6/1/webimg/92891009_o.jpg -
Ricardo Delgado
5:07 PM PST, 5/22/2008
Have you seen the work of Ricardo Delgado? Ricardo's sgraffito style pottery is fast becoming the rage among collectors. Well, maybe not all that fast. Ricardo is absolutely meticulous in his work. It's a slow process that just can't be hurried. Under the tutelage of his famous brother in law, Manuel (Manolo) Rodriguez, you can be sure the work is stunningly precise.
Although Manolo's influence in Ricardo's career is evident, Manolo does not do sgraffito work. Walter Parks, in his book The Miracle of Mata Ortiz, suggests that Ricardo may have first learned the art from Manolo's older brother, the accomplished Oscar Rodriguez, "who experimented with it years ago."
Though I have not met Ricardo, I was fortunate to find one of his ollas during a buying trip to Mata Ortiz in February. After describing the quality I was looking for, two separate gallery owners told me I must look for a Ricardo Delgado, after apologizing for not having one to sell me. Later, I was lucky enough to find one; and when I did, I could instantly see why his work was being recommended. The clarity of his etchings was dramatic. His themes were very pleasing, and the overall quality magnificent.
My love affair was cut very short as the piece sold very quickly. I would, however, like to show you the photos:
