Mata Ortiz, "A Field Seminar"
with Pottery Expert Jack Barry &
Spencer MacCallum
March 5-9, 2008
Juan Quezada
Travel with Jack Barry to the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, to meet the potters of Mata Ortiz and to visit the prehistoric ruins of Paquime (Casas Grandes), the origin of this unique hand-built pottery. Mata Ortiz, located 150 miles south of the US border, is home to over 400 potters who make the finest handmade pottery in the world. Their artistic achievements, acclaimed worldwide, have significantly improved the economics of the village and villagers. Revival of the Casas Grandes pottery began over 33 years ago when a young railroad worker, Juan Quezada, curious about the many shards of prehistoric pottery he encountered during his everyday activities, set forth to rediscover the ancient processes of making Casas Grandes pottery from natural materials from the area. Discovered by anthropologist Spencer MacCallum in 1976, Juan quickly developed his artistic skills and through the help of Spencer, the world soon learned about the revival of the Casas Grandes pottery tradition. Paquime, a major commercial center during the 13th and 14th centuries, was the center of a culture that produced a style of polychrome pottery that Juan Quezada would rediscover and produce. The ruins and the exceptional Paquime Cultural Museum present the life of these early farmers, traders and potters. We look forward to traveling with you on this special tour and seminar.
Itinerary:
Day ONE: TUCSON Group arrives in Tucson where we will overnight. The group will meet with Jack Barry for a wine gathering before dinner.
DAY TWO: NUEVO CASAS GRANDES Breakfast in our hotel followed by a 9:00 am departure on board Arizona Motor Coach. Our destination is Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico. We continue our journey to the border crossing at Douglas and Aqua Prieta takes us through Bisbee, Arizona where we take a lunch break and visit the unique shops and galleries of the historic mining town.
This evening upon our arrival, we will have the honor of visiting with Spencer and Emalie MacCallum in their historic hacienda in Nuevo Casa Grandes. Spencer and Emaile will give us a talk on his discovery. We plan to arrive with time to visit the ruins of Paquime and the adjacent Paquime Cultural Museum. They will also give us a tour of their four adobes that they have restored and rent on a weekly basis. Our lodging is the Hotel Hacienda.
DAY THREE: MATA ORTIZ Today we visit Mata Ortiz, located 20 miles south of our hotel along the Rio Palanganas. There we will visit the many potters who offer their hand-built pottery for sale. The Quezada family enjoys presenting pottery demonstrations including outdoor firing. The picturesque village presents many photographic and sketching opportunities. The people are most friendly and they welcome visitors. We will spend the day and evening at Mata Ortiz visiting and meeting potters, photographing, buying pottery and having lunch in the former railroad depot.
On the way back to Nuevo Casas Grandes we’ll visit the Acosta family at Hacienda San Diego and the villages of Colonial Juarez and Old Casas Grandes. We will have the opportunity to enjoy the multicultural aspects of the region. The area was settled in part by the Mormons in 1885-1912 and offers the surprising charm of a little town in Utah. You’ll see brick buildings and orchards of fruit trees in this valley. This is another opportunity for photography. This evening we’ll host a reception and dinner for Mata Ortiz potters at the Hacienda where we will stay this final evening.
DAY FOUR: TUCSON Our morning departure is scheduled to deliver us back to Tucson for the night. On our way we will stop at the Amerind Foundation and Museum, a non-profit, founded in 1937 by Dr. William Fulton to study, preserve and interpret prehistoric and historic Native American Cultures. The museum tour provides an introduction to the Casas Grandes and other cultures that inhabited the area around Paquime and Mata Ortiz. After our picnic lunch at Amerind among the precambrian boulders and live oaks we will continue our drive to Tucson.
Thursday – November 2: Check out of our hotel in Tucson and travel to the airport for our morning departure.
Mata Ortiz Resources:
www.thefolkartgallery.com/newsletters/mataortiznewsletter/creatingapot.htm
http://www.mataortiz.com/mataortizpottery.htm
Jack Barry
Jack Barry has years of experience as a naturalist/historian, and has been a Native America guide for Library Associates tours since 1984. He worked as a ranger in Yellowstone National Park and retired as a biologist for the U.S. Forest Service.
He has published many books and professional articles, including several on Native America. For the past 15 years he has introduced travelers and adventurers to native arts and crafts and natural history. His many friendships with artists, collectors and dealers are freely shared with his fellow travelers. Jack’s educational, hands-on approach and focus on the importance of the native people – their culture and environmental setting – is well established in these tours and recently established field seminars.
Adding to his credits, he has lectured widely, judged at several national Native American arts and crafts shows, and continues to be actively involved in writing, collecting arts and crafts, and leading tours.
Trip Price
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New price and full itinerary will be out soon.
http://www.mataortizcalendar.com/
Last tours tour price was.
The land-only tour price is $995.00 Price is per person, double occupancy, ask about air reservations. Single supplement $350.00
Tour includes all ground transportation from Tucson, breakfast each
morning, and guided tours of the village of Mata Ortiz, Paquime, Nuevo
Casas Grandes, discussion about the pottery, introduction to several
pottery artists. A $500.00 deposit required at time of reservation.
Payment in full 60 days prior to departure. For more information or
to register, please contact Melissa Chandon. 530-758-4510 916-448-1951
800-255-4567 or email info@davisvilletravel.com
This trip is sponsored by the URC and a percentage of the tour price will go to support the programs of the University Retirement Community.
On Tour Cancellation and Refund Policy: Cancellation fees per person are 61+ Days - $50.00, 46-60 days – 50% of Tour Payment, 45-0 Days - No Refund.
(Participants are highly encouraged to purchase trip cancellation insurance within seven days of deposit).
We must receive written notification that you are canceling your reservation.
