The Man Who Started the Miracle - Juan Quezada

Juan Shows the Road

I am a freelance photographer - have camera will travel. Seven years ago I had some images in an art gallery in Bisbee, Arizona, which closed. I decided to have a small gallery of my own and the gallery owner I had dealt with recommended that I should have a complimentary art form for sale. I had recently been to Mata Ortiz in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico and had been fascinated by its story. I had been invited into the homes of potters who wished to sell me their hand made pots. "Compra ollas?" was their first question. I found myself sat on a chair or stood by a bed in the intimate setting of someone's home. Me, a stranger in this village with its dusty dirt roads, enjoying the stimulation of dealing with a completely new environment. My very limited Spanish was being put to the test as I looked at pots of great variety and quality. Large pots, small pots, black pots, white pots. Vases, bowls, plates, effigies. An amazing experience that whetted my appetite to know more, to learn more about this very special and unique pueblo, nestling under some mountains in rural Mexico, with its river that flows all year round. A village of artists who produce original, individually signed hand crafted pottery.

Now, those seven years later, having visited the village numerous times and found my way around, having got to know quite a number of the potters and having improved my Spanish to some degree, I have an EBay store under the name of Mata Ortiz Fine Arts. The reason for this name was that I have known about the project to start producing high quality silver jewelry for a few years. Silver jewelry to compliment the pottery - two fine art forms. I guess the same logic that led me to have Mata Ortiz fine arts as a complimentary art form to my photography. The circle has become complete for me because, in October 2007, the jewelry made in Mata Ortiz was formally announced and I now have a few pieces listed in my store at: http://stores.ebay.com/Mata-Ortiz-Fine-Arts_Mata-Ortiz-Jewelry_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ16601091QQftidZ2QQtZkm

The developments I have seen, during the years I have traveled to Mata Ortiz, convince me of the words in the title of Walter Parks' book "The Miracle of Mata Ortiz".  It is truly a remarkable story and the art of the village is a living art form - it is changing, it is advancing, it is dynamic.  I am delighted to have it as part of my life and I look forward to continuing to source quality pottery, and now jewelry, that can add beauty to your life and those of others of your family and friends who would appreciate some of the best hand made pottery in the world.

 There is information about the Jewelry Announcement at my store page: http://stores.ebay.com/Mata-Ortiz-Fine-Arts/NEW-Mata-Ortiz-Jewelry.html

or Return to My Store here: http://stores.ebay.com/Mata-Ortiz-Fine-Arts_W0QQssPageNameZl2QQtZkm