Class Description - SMU-in-Taos

Breath of Clay: Exploring the World of Traditional Pottery

July 12-16, 2007

The art of pottery has deep roots in the Pueblo cultures of the Southwest. Join Dr. Sunday Eiselt and Filipe Ortega at his studio for a hands-on, four-day workshop on the history and creation of traditional Pueblo-inspired vessels. Participants learn each step in the process of making their own pieces. Slide presentations will reveal the breadth of designs used in prehistoric, historic, and contemporary pottery, and you will learn how to identify good work in the market today. Travel to one of the largest clay mining open pits in the country. The workshop concludes at Felipe’s studio on Monday, July 16, with your participation in the traditional ceremonial firing of your pottery. Your travel companions are welcome to attend this ceremony, which will be followed by a wonderful meal prepared by Felipe (who is also a very fine chef!). The excitement of seeing your works of art emerge from the fire will be an unforgettable experience, and your pot will serve as a durable reminder of this experience for years to come.

Suggested reading:

All That Glitters: The Emergence of Native American Micaceous Art Pottery in Northern New Mexico, by Dwayne Anderson (Felipe is one of the artists in this book)

Hispanic New Mexican Pottery: Evidence of Craft Specialization 1790-1890, by Charles M. Carrillo

“Ceramics for the Archaeologist: An Alternative Perspective,” an article by Felipe Ortega that will be sent to enrollees

Sunday Eiselt joined SMU in 2006 as a visiting assistant professor of archaeology after receiving her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. She has studied in numerous geographic regions including Mexico, the U.S. Southwest, California, and the Great Basin. Over the past nine years, she has worked with numerous micaceous potters in New Mexico to study traditional clay prospecting, harvesting, and production techniques. In collaboration with these potters, she has engaged in research that has revealed the complex development of New Mexico’s micaceous pottery tradition from A.D. 1300 to the present. This work includes her special interest in the transformation of micaceous pottery from a humble culinary ware to its spectacular entry into the modern art market during the late 1990s. As one of the leading experts on micaceous pottery of the northern Rio Grande, she has assisted in cases involving Pueblo rights to traditional clay pits threatened by industrial mining.

Felipe Ortega was born in La Madera, New Mexico in 1951 to parents of Jicarilla Apache and Hispanic descent. After attending elementary school at La Madera and high school in Ojo Caliente, he earned a degree in linguistics and classical languages at Duns Scotus College in Detroit and a Master’s in biblical theology and ministry at Oblate College, San Antonio. In 1969 Ortega apprenticed with Jesusita Martinez from the village of Petaca, who had learned micaceous pottery making from her Jicarilla grandmother around 1900. Throughout the 1970s, he developed the skills required to make beautiful thin pieces in the fashion of his Apache ancestors. Today, Mr. Ortega is widely sought after for his pottery and teaching abilities – making frequent trips to Mexico, Europe, and throughout the United States. As a master potter recognized by the Smithsonian Institution, he judges the work of other artists at Spanish and Indian Art Market competitions in Santa Fe and elsewhere. Mr. Ortega also has been featured in many journals and newspapers, as well as several published books. His work is currently on display at El Zocolo Gallery on the Plaza in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Cost Information

The registration fee for this class includes course tuition, field trip entry fees and permits, materials costs, and designated meals. Lodging and transportation to and from Taos are the responsibility of each participant.

$750* if registration is received by May 1, 2007
$850 if registration is received after May 1, 2007

* Because this course is four days rather than two days, it is $100 more than the other courses.

Register Early!

We filled up very quickly this year, so don't miss out for next summer. Go to our online registration form now.

Cancellation Policy

Registrants may cancel by notifying the SMU-in-Taos Cultural Institute up to 30 days prior to the start date of the Institute. A handling fee of $50 will be withheld from your registration fee, and the balance will be refunded to you. Refunds for the first weekend will not be permitted after June 14th; refunds for the second weekend with not be permitted after June 21st. Should the SMU-in-Taos Cultural Institute cancel a course, a full refund will be made to the registrants of that course.

Accommodations

We are currently in the process of blocking rooms with special rates at various hotels and B&Bs in Taos. Please check back with this website at the end of September for a listing of these accommodations. Meanwhile, if you'd like to check out a few of our recommended options for lodging, restaurants, and points of interest, please click here to Download a map of downtown Taos.

Getting There

If you choose to fly, the nearest airport is the Albuquerque International Airport, from which you may rent a car or take a shuttle into Taos (about a 2-hour drive). Download a map of the drive from Albuquerque to Taos, including driving directions and landmarks along the way.

If you choose to drive from Dallas to Taos, plan on approximately 11-12 hours. Download maps of the drive from Dallas to Taos, including driving directions and landmarks along the way.

Please Note

The Taos area is at an elevation of 7,000 feet above sea level. Some fieldtrips will include walking trails and climbing moderate inclines at this altitude.

For more Information

Contact Allison Curran at: acurran@mail.smu.edu or 214-768-1303.

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