Gavin Stairs on wed 19 nov 97
Hello all,
I've just come back from a flying tour of AZ and NM. Got caught in a
snowstorm, and had to overnight in the truck stop at Cline's Corners. In
the morning, while everyone else was cheerfully waiting for the dust (snow)
to settle by maybe noon, we looked out on the clear sky, plowed and sanded
roads, and slipped away at 7:30 to enjoy the empty interstate. Toas and
Bandelier were wonderful in the snow.
I got to see and touch some of Maria Martinez' pots. Nothing less than
gorgeous.
I also got to see and touch a great deal of inferior ware selling for
astounding prices. The seventh fire has been kindled, and the people of
Turtle Island are exacting the revenge of the pocketbook. I can't imagine
any of this ware selling for those prices unless made by "authentic" indian
potters. I doubt I could have afforded a mug, if I could have found one.
But the reservations are beginning to look prosperous, which is worth
something.
San Ildefonso was closed to outsiders. Taos was open for business. I
didn't get to visit many galleries, or many potters. Nevertheless, it was
great fun, and an eye-opener. The trick seems to be to become a tourist
destination. Tourists will buy anything.
We spent most of our time visiting the National Monuments and ruins. Some
of the pots and reproductions there are wonderful. A great variety of
quality. Mostly utilitarian, since these were pots made to be used
everyday. The decorations were mostly simple and used only one or two
slips. The better of these pots sang of their maker's skill. The lesser
ones were simply useful. They were similar to the pots being offered for
sale by many of today's potters. That is, the products of not especially
gifted potters. But the difference is that the originals were undoubtedly
exchanged for less than a day's labour equivalent for a smallish pot, while
the present day ones were going for much more than a day's labour.
I loved my visit, and I hope to return some day soon, but I won't expect to
buy much pottery. Just as well.
Gavin
stairs@echo-on.net
http://isis.physics.utoronto.ca/
416 530 0419 (home) 416 978 2735 (work)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Pat Everson on thu 20 nov 97
Hi All,
I too recently returned from the SW. I must mention one thing that made me
somewhat uncomfortable. In the tourist shops and trading posts there was
glazed black ware made to imitate the blackware of the Pueblos. Not sure how
I feel about that. Lucky me, I knew the difference. Maybe I'll hear from
some of you about that.
I have been studying ceramics for nearly 5 years and am new to the art scene,
galleries, etcetera. Upon the advice of some of you, and others, I visited
VanBriggle and Manitou Springs in Colorado and then went on to New Mexico to
see Taos, Dixon, Chamayo, Bandelier, Jimez Spgs, San Ildefonso, and
Albuquerque visiting studios, galleries, and talking to artists along the
way.
"Everyone was especially kind and helpful but some who went beyond that were
those at Commonwheel (a co-op), VanBriggle, The Market, Clay and Fibre (lots
of outstanding work and I drooled over the raku), and The Day of the Dead by
Michael Corney at the MariPosa was wonderful. I gathered lots of info and
literature and things to share. And I can't forget the people of Dixon.
Dixon is a town full of artists in New Mexico snuggled deep in the mountains.
For 2 days, once a year, they open their homes and studios to the public.
It was a wonderful experience. I had never heard of it so it was purely
accidental that I was in the area at that time. And, only heard of it then
through a fellow "clayarter" (?). Things like that just kept happening on
this trip. I was truly blessed. And, many of the experiences (most
especially the Pueblos) were truly spiritual.
I had never been further west than western KY, and between the landscape and
the art it was a visual overload. It ranks right up there on that list of,
"the best things I have ever done for myself.
Still overwhelmed and still sharing it...with everyone!
Pat
PJEVER@aol.com
eversonp@nku.com
Wanting to go back with more time.
Robert S. Bruch on thu 20 nov 97
Gavin:
if you go to the Northern pueblos duiring a festival
period, such as Christmas and the day after, mnay will
pueblo shops will be open with some amount of quality
ceramics available, although the prices are fairly high.
They may still be a bargain compared to purchasing simialr
work from a gallery in SF or Taos. Also, you get the added
benefit of seeing the Indian dances.
--
Bob Bruch rsb8@po.cwru.edu
Alison Hamilton on fri 21 nov 97
Hi everybody!
I agree with Gavin re: NM and NV. I spent 3 weeks there last winter and
was fairly disappointed (and surprised) and what I found. While the
native ceramics were beautiful (yes, and pricey!), I was disappointed in
just about everything else. Really, how many times can you see
Kokopelli before wanting to throw up? I think that image has been
ruined for me. It seemed that most artists (and of course I'm
generalizing) were simply reworking old images as opposed to coming up
with their own ideas and going from there. It just didn't seem creative
to me.
Alison
Gavin Stairs wrote:
> ----------------------------Original
> message----------------------------
> Hello all,
>
> I've just come back from a flying tour of AZ and NM. Got caught in a
> snowstorm, and had to overnight in the truck stop at Cline's Corners.
> In
> the morning, while everyone else was cheerfully waiting for the dust
> (snow)
> to settle by maybe noon, we looked out on the clear sky, plowed and
> sanded
> roads, and slipped away at 7:30 to enjoy the empty interstate. Toas
> and
> Bandelier were wonderful in the snow.
>
> I got to see and touch some of Maria Martinez' pots. Nothing less
> than
> gorgeous.
>
> I also got to see and touch a great deal of inferior ware selling for
> astounding prices. The seventh fire has been kindled, and the people
> of
> Turtle Island are exacting the revenge of the pocketbook. I can't
> imagine
> any of this ware selling for those prices unless made by "authentic"
> indian
> potters. I doubt I could have afforded a mug, if I could have found
> one.
> But the reservations are beginning to look prosperous, which is worth
> something.
>
> San Ildefonso was closed to outsiders. Taos was open for business. I
>
> didn't get to visit many galleries, or many potters. Nevertheless, it
> was
> great fun, and an eye-opener. The trick seems to be to become a
> tourist
> destination. Tourists will buy anything.
>
> We spent most of our time visiting the National Monuments and ruins.
> Some
> of the pots and reproductions there are wonderful. A great variety of
>
> quality. Mostly utilitarian, since these were pots made to be used
> everyday. The decorations were mostly simple and used only one or two
>
> slips. The better of these pots sang of their maker's skill. The
> lesser
> ones were simply useful. They were similar to the pots being offered
> for
> sale by many of today's potters. That is, the products of not
> especially
> gifted potters. But the difference is that the originals were
> undoubtedly
> exchanged for less than a day's labour equivalent for a smallish pot,
> while
> the present day ones were going for much more than a day's labour.
>
> I loved my visit, and I hope to return some day soon, but I won't
> expect to
> buy much pottery. Just as well.
>
> Gavin
>
> stairs@echo-on.net
> http://isis.physics.utoronto.ca/
> 416 530 0419 (home) 416 978 2735 (work)
> Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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