"There are countless horrible things happening all over the world and horrible people prospering, but we must never allow them to disturb our equanimity or deflect us from our sacred duty to sabotage and annoy them whenever possible." -Auberon Waugh
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
Working-with-your-hands Wednesday
Update Here's something I picked up in Arizona. It's not in the traditional Navajo style, but it was made by a Navajo artist, I believe. I also have some Navajo pottery in the old style. Really beautiful.
Yes, many of the old skills are dying. Our local community college had an active farrier program for many years, but was shut down after enrollment dropped to an unsustainable level. Well, unsustainable to the college. That institution has been making bad decisions for years. But that's another story.
Thanks for sharing, Paco -- that was an interesting aspect to pottery making.
Btw, speaking of farriers, I once saw a job for a mule-shoer in the Grand Canyon National Park. Boy, did I agonize over never having learned the trade!
A mule-shoer in the Grand Canyon National Park? What would be so hard about that? Just wave your arms at the mules and shout sho! sho! and they'll run away.
My grandmother had a set of 3 black-on-black Navajo pottery bowls that "nested" in each other. In the late 1960s, while on a trip to the Grand Canyon, my grandparents bought them from the artist who made them. They were quite stunning, and the artist later became rather famous and his work became quite valuable (I honestly cannot remember his name). My dad had found one of his on the internet that was quite similar to the middle one, and it sold at auction for more than $7K. She had promised them to my father, but after she died, they were nowhere to be found. She had spent her last couple of years giving away possessions to friends (partly so her daughter, my mom, wouldn't get them - yeah, there was not a good relationship there), and must have given them away. I very much doubt whoever has them has any idea what they're worth.
When black-on-black pottery is mentioned, I always think of the pottery from San Ildefonso in New Mexico. Maria rediscovered how it was done. She became famous for her works, and very sought after. A friend gifted me a small pot (ostensibly) by Maria's daughter as a college graduation present. (I say ostensibly because the signature on the bottom was in pencil rather than inscribed.) I loved that pot, but sadly it disappeared when my Dad moved from the ranch.
Paco, thank you for sharing this. I lived in Arizona too. I didn't know the Maricopa had so many bands. A liitle aside, many years ago the Maricopa went to the Arizona Capital in Phoenix, and presented the Governor with treaty papers proving they owned the entire valley. The White Eyes were not impressed.
Paco, your bear pot is gorgeous! Is it gray or white? I love pottery, and basketry, especially pine needle basket/jewelry. Porcupine quill works, usually barretts and jewelry is amazing.
Deb: The pot is white; the lighting might have given it a grayish cast. Fell in love with it when I saw it in a store. I can't remember the price; I do remember that, as an unemployed grad student, I had no business shelling out that kind of cash, but I knew I'd always regret it if I didn't.
Mrs. Paco and I went to one of the "gathering of the tribes" celebrations one year (I think it might have been in Casa Grande); the dances and traditional music were incredible, and the display of pottery and jewelry (lots of silver and turquoise, of course) was a wonder to behold.
Btw, interesting that you should mention pine needle baskets; one of our near neighbors makes pine needle baskets and they are truly works of art.
I spent my tenth year of life in northwest New Mexico (just outside Farmington) back when my dad was drilling wells for companies like Schlumberger and Halliburton, and I've loved Indian art ever since. We lived a hundred yards away from the San Juan River, which was the boundary for part of the Navajo reservation. Back then, a lot of the Navajos still lived in hogans and wore velvet and tons of turquoise. It's all different now, a lot of the culture has disappeared, but the artists are still at it, and they often branch out into new experiments. If any of the Pacotistas ever have the chance, visit the Native American Art Museum (I think that's the name) in Albuquerque.
Mike: You have hit upon the truth, brother. I have never actually yearned for a place as I have for the southern Arizona desert country. But life sometimes makes other plans for you.
Rebecca: I remember when we drove through New Mexico to Arizona back in December of 1991, you could still see the occasional hogan off in the distance. I'm sure the museum is a must-see; our goal is to make trips from time to time out west, and that would definitely be worth visiting.
Yes, many of the old skills are dying. Our local community college had an active farrier program for many years, but was shut down after enrollment dropped to an unsustainable level. Well, unsustainable to the college. That institution has been making bad decisions for years. But that's another story.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Paco -- that was an interesting aspect to pottery making.
When I lived in Arizona, I had the opportunity to see a lot of Navajo and Hopi pottery, and really grew to love the stuff.
ReplyDeleteBtw, speaking of farriers, I once saw a job for a mule-shoer in the Grand Canyon National Park. Boy, did I agonize over never having learned the trade!
ReplyDeleteAh, the opportunities that we miss. I told Richard, and he said that at least you didn't agonize after being kicked by a mule. There is that.
DeleteA mule-shoer in the Grand Canyon National Park? What would be so hard about that? Just wave your arms at the mules and shout sho! sho! and they'll run away.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother had a set of 3 black-on-black Navajo pottery bowls that "nested" in each other. In the late 1960s, while on a trip to the Grand Canyon, my grandparents bought them from the artist who made them. They were quite stunning, and the artist later became rather famous and his work became quite valuable (I honestly cannot remember his name). My dad had found one of his on the internet that was quite similar to the middle one, and it sold at auction for more than $7K. She had promised them to my father, but after she died, they were nowhere to be found. She had spent her last couple of years giving away possessions to friends (partly so her daughter, my mom, wouldn't get them - yeah, there was not a good relationship there), and must have given them away. I very much doubt whoever has them has any idea what they're worth.
ReplyDeleteWhen black-on-black pottery is mentioned, I always think of the pottery from San Ildefonso in New Mexico. Maria rediscovered how it was done. She became famous for her works, and very sought after. A friend gifted me a small pot (ostensibly) by Maria's daughter as a college graduation present. (I say ostensibly because the signature on the bottom was in pencil rather than inscribed.) I loved that pot, but sadly it disappeared when my Dad moved from the ranch.
DeleteSpiny: Too bad about the "vanishing" pottery. These things can, indeed, be very expensive.
ReplyDeleteBlack-on-black is truly beautiful pottery.
ReplyDeletePaco, thank you for sharing this. I lived in Arizona too. I didn't know the Maricopa had so many bands. A liitle aside, many years ago the Maricopa went to the Arizona Capital in Phoenix, and presented the Governor with treaty papers proving they owned the entire valley. The White Eyes were not impressed.
ReplyDeletePaco, your bear pot is gorgeous! Is it gray or white? I love pottery, and basketry, especially pine needle basket/jewelry. Porcupine quill works, usually barretts and jewelry is amazing.
ReplyDeleteDeb: The pot is white; the lighting might have given it a grayish cast. Fell in love with it when I saw it in a store. I can't remember the price; I do remember that, as an unemployed grad student, I had no business shelling out that kind of cash, but I knew I'd always regret it if I didn't.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Paco and I went to one of the "gathering of the tribes" celebrations one year (I think it might have been in Casa Grande); the dances and traditional music were incredible, and the display of pottery and jewelry (lots of silver and turquoise, of course) was a wonder to behold.
Btw, interesting that you should mention pine needle baskets; one of our near neighbors makes pine needle baskets and they are truly works of art.
I'm getting the feeling that Paco might have preferred retiring to Arizona.
ReplyDeletePaco clearly has a love of that state.
I spent my tenth year of life in northwest New Mexico (just outside Farmington) back when my dad was drilling wells for companies like Schlumberger and Halliburton, and I've loved Indian art ever since. We lived a hundred yards away from the San Juan River, which was the boundary for part of the Navajo reservation. Back then, a lot of the Navajos still lived in hogans and wore velvet and tons of turquoise. It's all different now, a lot of the culture has disappeared, but the artists are still at it, and they often branch out into new experiments. If any of the Pacotistas ever have the chance, visit the Native American Art Museum (I think that's the name) in Albuquerque.
ReplyDeleteMike: You have hit upon the truth, brother. I have never actually yearned for a place as I have for the southern Arizona desert country. But life sometimes makes other plans for you.
ReplyDeleteRebecca: I remember when we drove through New Mexico to Arizona back in December of 1991, you could still see the occasional hogan off in the distance. I'm sure the museum is a must-see; our goal is to make trips from time to time out west, and that would definitely be worth visiting.