Bruce Girrell on sun 19 may 02
I thought that Clayart people in the Los Angeles area may want to check out
this event:
MATA ORTIZ & CORN FESTIVAL WEEKEND
FRI JUNE 28 to SUN JUNE 30TH, 2002
June 28th 10AM-5PM , June 29th 10AM-7PM, June 30th 10AM-7PM
ART in The PARK
5568 Via Marisol
Arroyo Seco Park
in Highland Park
Contact: Rose Figueroa
(323) 259-0861
EXHIBITION OPENING & POTTERY SALE
"LEGACY IN CLAY"
A rare chance to buy affordable genuine
Mata Ortiz Pottery.
EXPERT LECTURE
Sat 11:30am-2:00pm
Author Walter Parks will discuss the history
& importance of this ancient yet modern art.
LIVE POTTERY FIRING
Master Potter from Mata Ortiz,
Jorge Quintana will demostrate the making
& firing of a pot.
SUNDAY 10AM-7PM
"LEGACY IN CLAY" Exhibit and Sale of pottery
continues 10am-7pm
Join us for the 11th Annual Corn Festival
LIVE BANDS, ART WORKSHOPS, GREAT FOOD
FREE ADMISSION & PARKING ALL WEEKEND
About the exhibit;
Exhibit curated by Rose Figueroa
All pottery on loan from the Hermann & Marisa Knechtle Collection
'LEGACY IN CLAY"
This exhibition will focus on the revival of the Casas Grandes style
pottery that has been re-introduced in the small village of Mata Ortiz
in Chihuahua, Mexico.
As a young man Juan Quezada was intrigued by the beauty and abundance
of pre-historic pottery shards that he found all around his home.
Fascinated by their design and construction, he set out to recreate them,
knowing the clay deposits must be in the nearby mountains. After years of
trial and error, this artist, who had never seen a pot made, mastered the
ancient art of Casas Grandes pottery.
In 1976, anthropologist, Spencer MacCallum found three exquisite unsigned
pots in New Mexico and became obsessed with the potter who produced them.
His search led him to Juan Quezada's home in the village of Mata Ortiz.
MacCallum provided Juan with a monthly stipend so that he could support his
family and be free to concentrate on his art. Juan's artistic abilities
progressed at a tremendous rate. Since then Juan has become an
internationally recognized master potter. In 1999 Mexico's President
Ernesto Zedillo presented Juan Quezada with the National Award in Art and
Science (previously presented to Diego Rivera). Today, because of one man's
curiosity, a whole village has flourished. Mata Ortiz now has over 300
potters.
The exhibit will also show samples of clay and materials used in pottery
making and illustrate through photos the process of pottery making and
firing.
Lynne Girrell
| |
|
