Felipe Ortega Ceramics

This story comes to us from edible new mexico.

Felipe ortega ceramics.

Photo by douglas merriam. The world recently lost a great talent. Our mission is to provide an artist in residence venue to conduct art education to community members while honoring. Credited by many with reviving the art of the apache bean pot.

They looked like pueblo pottery but my experience with those had been limited to decorative pieces. I counted more than two dozen of these clearly handmade beauties in every size and shape with many wonderfully large pieces intended for feasting. This video was created a few years back so the contents and the following statement reflect where felipe was in his career at the time. For those who were lucky enough to know him felipe ortega s passing runs deep even more so because this craftsman was one of only a few master teachers left who handcraft micaceous rich clay pots just as his native american ancestors had done for centuries.

Felipe ortega micaceous pot. Felipe ortega is recognized as a master potter in the jicarilla apache tradition by the smithsonian institution. His pots are not intended to be simply displayed but to be used for cooking beans and other foods. Felipe s studio at owl peak pottery foundation lamadera new mexico.

It s just after 6pm but it feels like midnight in la madera. A selection of bowls and cooking pots are laid out. He conducts classes out of his studio in la madera new mexico and at northern new mexico community college in española. Felipe ortega is an apache medicine man and artist.

Felipe ortega runs. He offers classes in making micaceous pottery and has a bed and breakfast for housing his students and guests. Of jicarilla apache descent and fluent in 12 languages felipe honors the ancient over 400 year old tradition of his ancestors working the mica rich clay indigenous to this region of new mexico. Many historians writers and collectors viewed felipe ortega as an artist who kept traditional apache pottery making methods alive.

It s dim inside johnny ortiz s farmhouse. He is widely known for his mastery of micaceous clay ceramics and his charismatic teaching style. He took a more down to earth view of his work. See more ideas about ortega pottery clay.

It s completely dark outside except for the stars and a few strings of holiday lights. I thought to myself this unique cookware bespeaks the hand of an.