VILISThe Micaceous pottery that I make has deep roots in the culture of New Mexico. Native New Mexicans have used Micaceous pottery as culinary ware for centuries, because it is extremely light weight and it has a superb thermal shock value, not just because of the pottery's beautiful golden appearance. The fact that mica makes each piece completely functional gives my work a timeless quality. A quality that can't be found in the mass produced metal pots and pans that came so close to devastating this craft. The earliest evidence of Micaceous pottery in the southwest is dated at 200 A.D, the Hohokam people of southern Arizona. The Native American people of northern New Mexico have worked with Micaceous clay since at least 1300 A.D.. The distinctive look of Micaceous pottery has developed over the centuries do to the sharing of ideas with neighboring pueblos and later with Hispanic settlers. However after the Santa Fe Trail was introduced the craft of Micaceous pottery became all but extinct do to the importing of metal pots and pans. If Micaceous pottery was not so perfectly suited for cooking it would have disappeared forever. Micaceous clay was introduced to me by internationally known artist Felipe Ortega in 1995. While living with Felipe I was taught to dig, process, hand shape, and surface each piece I made. Micaceous clay is a unglazed earthenware that is saturated with tiny bits of aluminum silicate (mica). Mica also works as an insulator spreading the heat of the flame from the bottom of the pot, up and around the body of the piece. Thus allowing your food to cook more evenly and avoiding hot spots in your culinary ware. It was five years later in 2000 that I began my formal ceramic education at the University of New Mexico V.C. under the instruction of Michael Ceschiat. Mike is a master ceramic sculptor with a strong foundation in the Eastern ceramic traditions. For three years I studied the Western and Eastern ceramic traditions and style's. Many of the contemporary forms that I work are a direct influence of Michael's instruction. Mike also pushed me to start promoting myself as an artist. I consider myself fortunate to have studied under such worldly professors. I am currently working on my BFA. at the University of New Mexico. It has only been the last two years that I have begun to incorporate both Felipe's and Michael's instruction. Resulting in a traditional culinary ware with a contemporary flare. Regardless whether you find yourself drawn to my traditional Hispanic culinary ware, or a form oriented contemporary piece, you can rest assured that you are purchasing a piece of timeless ceramic art. |
