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| Kevin Mahkee, Ancient Ceramics Club member, left, and Elroy Natachu, president. |
In ancient times, artists and craftsmen generally provided their own tools and materials. They mixed pigment, made brushes, and dug for clay.
Ceramics artist Elroy Natachu of Zuni believes part of his mission as president of the Ancient Ceramics Club at the University of New Mexico at Gallup is to help his club members reconnect with the traditions of the arts. And where better to start in this part of the world than with the Puebloan culture?
The members of the club represent a cross-section of the traditions found in Gallup – Puebloan, Navajo, Hispanic--all peoples are welcome. But for the rest of this school year, they will join Natachu as he orchestrates a curriculum-driven program to help them understand Puebloan art.
The group starts this Saturday with a field trip to Ashiwi Awan Museum in Zuni, where they will listen to Curtis Quam, who will tell the Zuni migration story to illustrate how all Puebloans were connected, and how artists shared techniques. They will also watch some historic black and white videos showing women potters from the early 20th century at work. The students will then go on to the gallery, for a look at recovered pottery.
From noon to 1 p.m., the students will proceed to Natachu’s house for a traditional home-style meal of stews and enchiladas. In the afternoon, the club members will accompany Natachu to a place where Zuni potters have dug their own clay for centuries. After offerings and prayers to Mother Earth (these will be conducted by and for Zunis only), the group will proceed to dig clay so they can try their hand at creating pottery in the Zuni style.
“We are paying respect for taking her flesh,” Natachu explained of the prayers and offerings. “We’re hoping she will give clay in return. If we don’t do this, she’ll give you rocks and not clay.” The Zuni believe that the earth is a living, breathing thing, he noted, adding, “That’s why it’s important not to waste it.”
Among the varying kinds of clay to be found in Zuni mines is kaolin. Kaolin is used to create slips, or a liquid clay suspension of mineral pigments. The slips can be reddish, off-white to brown, white or black. Slips are applied on the pottery as a wash, creating large patterns or swaths of color. In many cases, the Zuni apply the slips with a yucca brush – narrow yucca leaves chewed so the fibers are loosened. Clay used in Puebloan pottery is to be found throughout the Southwest, with Zuni potters sometimes traveling as far as Grand Canyon for the reds and yellow ochres found in hematites (iron oxides).
The black paint used in Zuni pottery, by the way, comes from wild spinach (Cleome serrulata Pursh) – not to be found this time of year, but an important plant for the Zuni potter to know. The process of creating the black paint is an arduous one and can take an entire day. The plant is gathered and stuck in a pot and boiled with water. Once a thick black syrup forms, the mixture is strained, then cooked for another couple of hours until it’s like molasses. The syrup is poured into little brick molds which are then put in a pot to dry. Water is added whenever the potter wants to use the dried blocks of paint.
“It’s fun to go back and learn these technical processes, such as the early brushes and making the paint, and using gourds for scrapers, and to think that with these simple items people created beautiful pieces of artwork,” Natachu said.
Natachu, who is 21 and has been studying at UNM-G for three years, was taught these techniques by family members. He lists painters, fetish carvers, potters and a seamstress among his relatives. They have inspired him to also pursue a career in art as a high school art teacher. He has training in medical records and as an administrative assistant from UNM-G, but says his love of art has inspired him to want to inspire others.
“I’ve found the older generation is more committed to appreciating this art than the young generation,” Natachu says as his reason for wanting to teach his peers about Puebloan pottery in particular and artistic traditions in general.
After their field trip on Saturday, the group will turn their interest to the work of other Puebloan artists. They will be inviting artists from Laguna, Isleta, and perhaps Hopi to give demonstrations in the ceramics lab, and to talk about mineral techniques, and the culture and philosophy of their traditions. In years to come, the club will decide about studying traditions farther afield – perhaps those of China, Europe, Mesopotamia or the Aztecs.
To raise money to fund their activities, the club will host a bake sale and ring toss with prizes on Tuesday, Nov. 22, all day in Gurley Hall. Among the prizes will be a turkey basket, which will include a turkey, stuffing, and all the trimmings for Thanksgiving; other prizes will be some etchware and trinkets made by Natachu.
For more information on the Ancient Ceramics Club or the sale on Tuesday, contact
