Pueblo Pottery From San Ildefonso New Mexico

Pueblo Pottery -- "Black Storage Jar"(p.8) -- Creating innovation by returning to and rediscovering the old traditions of production

The ancient art of pottery of the Native American people is not a static thing -- rather it is a living and breathing art form. It is part of a craft that was vital to the tribal livelihood in ages past, and is a vital part of tourism in Native American reservation life, as people from as far as Detroit and other cities and nations come to the Pueblo reservations to purchase the pottery, witness how it is made, and meet with legendary craftsmen and women of the Pueblo tradition.

Maria Martinez and her husband Julian were not simply one of "Five Generations" of Native American potters, as the exhibit she was part of notes. She was legendary amongst her people for her ability to incorporate important practical artistic innovations into the craft of pottery making. This enabled different shades of black, particularly shiny black, to become part of the currently produced pottery works, as well as for these colors to merely exist in archeological history. Maria learned the basics of the craft of pottery making within the context of her tribe in the 1890's. She also heard of older, then lost techniques to create the shiny blackened surface.

Through her own artistic and scientific experimentation, Maria was able to reintroduced these techniques as well as improved upon them, and increased the economic welfare of her reservation in the process, as tourist demand increased exponentially for these innovative works. The first black and white Pueblo decorated pots appeared in 700A.D., with a glossy black on creamy white backgrounds. They were constructed in a similar way that the San Ildefonso Pueblo Indians still build their pots through series of manufactured clay coils. However, only by impregnating the pots with carbon was Maria, with the aid of her husband, able to recapture the appearance of the ancient Pueblo pots after much trial and error. Warm earth colors are also present in the scheme of these Pueblo pots, and the diversity of this woman's artist palate is reflective of her tribe's past vision as well as commensurate with her own unique craft's many faceted color schemes and techniques. She has created and continued a rich and practical craft and artistic tradition that is an inspiration to all peoples.