Carrying on the Tradition 

I have been interested in the cultures of Native America for many years. As a matter of fact, I have been interested in various cultures of different peoples forever. Each culture has different ways of handing down the traditions from one generation to the next, whether it is an oral, written, or kinesthetic method or a combination.

In the case of the Native Americans, it is a wonder to me that more tradition has not been lost as a result of past efforts of forced assimilation. In more recent history, pottery–making has become an important home-based industry for the Indians. Prices have escalated as collectors realized the artistic value of these hand–made pots. Indian Market, where Native American arts and crafts from all across the United States are shown and sold, is an annual August event in Santa Fe, NM;  just ten or fifteen years ago you could buy beautiful pottery at reasonable prices, but it has now become a dealer’s market where prices are anything but reasonable. Prices have skyrocketed as dealers, collectors, and tourists vie for pots. This is not to be discounted as necessarily detrimental: because of the increased demand for pottery, the Indians have jumped on the pottery-making bandwagon; members who had not previously thought of pursuing the craft are now doing so. You just have to walk through a pueblo to see the many signs of “Pottery” (for sale). Even the Navajos who do not have a  pottery-making tradition are  now crafting pots.

For the survival of any tradition, it is critical that it be passed on from elders to youth. I became interested in the Santa Clara Pueblo Moquino family members and the three generations who are now crafting beautiful pottery. It was fascinating to me to discover how each generation learns from the older one as well as how the pots themselves are made, the process from clay to finished product. Because I strongly support the continuation and individuation  of culture and tradition, I chose to document this particular element of Moquino family history and tradition, that others may also know and value the pottery-making tradition. I call this documentary series “Carrying on the Tradition.”

-aj Melnick

Gift of the Earth; How the Pots are Created

The pottery of the Moquino family is  entirely handmade, from the beginning of the process to the end. After the clay for the pottery has been dug from the earth, it must be dried, then washed, then  put  through a sieve.  Sifted white sand is added to temper it, adding strength to the clay and the resultant pottery.

Most of the Moquino family form pots with their hands rather than using the coil method. Each pot must be smoothed with a damp cloth,  dipped in water from time to time.  After the vessel is formed and dried for about two days, it is again smoothed with a damp cloth; then it is  sanded. Slip, a thin suspension of clay particles and water,  is now applied to the surface to improve the color and texture. But, the work is still not complete. The pot  must be polished with a smooth stone after the slip has been applied uniformly. When the pot has been sufficiently burnished, a grease is applied. It is said that it makes the pottery shine better. After the grease has been absorbed, the final polishing with the stone is done. The pottery is then wrapped in newspaper and stored until there are enough pots for a firing.

A special pit,  used only for firings, is located behind Corn Moquino’s home.  An early morning firing before the wind arises is preferable. For the firing, the pots are placed in a metal box with a top. The bark is placed around the box and the kindling lit. The fire is allowed to burn for awhile and then the fire is doused with manure which causes the smoking needed to turn the pots black.

When the ashes have cooled sufficiently, the potter  removes the box from  the ashes and with tongs removes the pots. They then are wiped clean of the soot. It is a wondrous sight  to see the transformation of pots which have turned a beautiful and shiny black after firing.

Any etching the potter may choose to do is done after the firing. This is done freehand with a small metal point.

Pottery of the family is sold in galleries and at arts and crafts fairs such as Eight Northern Pueblos Arts and Crafts Fair, Indian Market, and various individual pueblo arts and crafts fairs in the area. Corn Moquino sells some of the family’s pots in his studio/gallery.