Handcrafted PotteryHand Made Ceramics For The Home

Mata Ortiz Pottery in Puerto Vallarta

You will undoubtedly see some lovely pottery as you peruse Puerto Vallarta’s many art galleries, and none is more lovely than Mata Ortiz pottery. If you haven’t yet taken the opportunity to check it out, this is the time. Honestly, it won’t hurt you to get away from the pool at your Mexico Vacation Villa Rental for a couple of hours and pick up a bit of culture. You may just come away with some beautiful pottery, as well.

Mata Who?
Mata Ortiz pottery is growing in recognition and popularity. The name is not that of a person, but rather that of a pueblo (town) in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, near the border where Mexico, Texas and New Mexico come together. Members of this small community (it’s only a few blocks big) began making a name for themselves and their pots in 1976, when they and their work were “discovered.”

It’s not so much that they were “lost” to begin with; that just happens to be the date that the outside world became aware of the exquisite work they produced. Master potter Juan Quezada introduced, or rather reintroduced, the centuries old method of forming pots with coils of local clay. Today, his students and followers continue to make all their pots by hand, without the use of potters’ wheels.

That’s some sophisticated folk art
It didn’t take long for Mata Ortiz pottery to become acknowledged as a legitimate form of contemporary art. Art aficionados and pottery experts will tell you that both the construction and the decorative style are derived from Paquime Casas Grandes pottery, as well as from the Mimbres traditions of the American Southwest. Mata Ortiz artists do not simply recreate old designs, however. Their work is unique and modern, despite its ancient origins.

Now that you’re convinced that this bears looking into, you’re ready to dash out the door of your Mexico Vacation Villa Rental, but first, you need to locate a source for these works of art. In Puerto Vallarta, you’ll find Mata Ortiz pottery at the Mata Ortiz Pottery Gallery (who knew?) at Lázaro Cárdenas 268A. And the Galeria de Ollas, at Corona 176, features a large collection of signed pieces from the village. If you do decide to acquire a piece, take your time and really look at each piece. They are all lovely, but if you listen, one in particular will surely speak to you.

About the Author

The author is a huge fan of Puerto Vallarta and enjoys his vacation at Puerto Vallarta Vacation Rental. For further information on Vacation Rentals in Puerto Vallarta and Puerto Vallarta Villa Rental please visit at www.villaencantada.com.

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