New Mexico Books

Richard Spivey's large-format book, MARIA, serves as an excellent visual and textual appreciation of the pottery of Maria Martinez, the famous Native American artist of San Ildefonso pueblo in New Mexico. Numerous full-page color photographs of her pottery and B/W photos of Maria at work with her husband and son provide a feast for the eyes. You can almost feel the smoothness of the pottery eased into being by her creative hands. Much of the text is taken from oral interviews and reminiscences by Maria herself, who died in 1980 at the age of 93. In 1907 Dr. Edgar L. Hewett of the School of American Research in Santa Fe, New Mexico began excavating prehistoric Pueblo sites near San Ildefonso pueblo. Julian Martinez was hired as one of the laborers in the dig. When his wife Maria saw the shards of ancient pottery being unearthed, she was delighted by the designs. Dr. Hewett asked her to try to reproduce the polychrome pottery with those designs and was amazed by the beauty of her work when he returned the next archeological season. Julian had helped by painting traditional designs on his wife's new pottery. Dr. Hewett bought practically everything they had made. From that moment on Maria and Julian dedicated themselves to pottery. Over the next few decades, as tourism increased in New Mexico, Maria's fame spread and potters in other pueblos took up the nearly forgotten ancient art. Maria had been attempting to create pottery since the age of seven. There were still two excellent potters in her pueblo (Martina Montoya and Nicolasa Pena Montoya), who encouraged the little girl in her initial efforts. Their pottery was, as it had always been, beautiful utilitarian pieces -- plates, cups for atole, bowls for mixing chili or soup or dough, cooking pots, and large jars in which to wash hair. Clay "ollas" stood outdoors to collect rainwater. Pottery was traded in other pueblos for wheat, corn, or chile, but never for money. However, Maria's pottery would change all that. Over a 40-year period Julian and Maria shared their labor. Julian gathered clay from the earth. Maria prepared the clay, coiled it, shaped it into pottery, smoothed, and fired the completed pots. Then she polished them with stone or sandpaper. Finally Julian would paint symbolic designs around the piece. He became the leading pottery decorator and she the leading potter of her pueblo. Encouraged by the Museum of New Mexico to continue spending more time on fewer but higher quality pieces, Maria and Julian produced exquisite shapes and designs, which included clouds, butterflies, plumed serpents (avanyu), feathers, plants, clouds, turkeys, kiva steps (ceremonial underground centers), and geometric designs. In 1919 Maria began experimenting with her soon-to-be famous matte-black-on-polished-black ware. After perfecting the right combination of matte and polish accompanied by her husband's designs, Maria unselfishly shared her secrets with other potters. The first Santa Fe Indian Market was held in 1922 under the direction of the School of American Research with all New Mexico pueblos represented. "Native clays, pigments, and traditional methods were required in order to participate in the market." Maria began to win the first of many prizes. In 1924 a bridge was built across the Rio Grande near San Ildefonso and tourists came to the pueblo to buy directly from the potters. Withdrawing from its physical isolation, San Ildefonso became "one of the most progressive arts and crafts centers" among Rio Grande River pueblos. Maria and Julian were the primary causes of this new prosperity. Living standards rose in San Ildefonso and other pueblos where arts and crafts were practiced. Income from pottery began to exceed that of agriculture. Domestic problems declined. New houses were built. Maria began teaching classes at the Indian School in Santa Fe. When her husband died in 1943, Maria turned to her daughter-in-law Santana to paint the designs on her pottery. In 1948 Maria's son, Popovi Da ("Red Fox") opened the Popovi Da Studio of Indian Art at San Ildefonso to display and sell outstanding examples of his mother's and other pueblo artists' work. In 1950 he began assisting in the painting of some of his mother's pots. In 1956, after a highly successful partnership with Santana, Maria began working solely with her son Popovi Da ("Red Fox"). He wanted to carry the art further and began experimenting with new designs ("new colors and combinations of colors, new finishes, and a higher level of perfection.") He respectfully intended to wait until his mother's retirement before branching out completely on his own, but his early death prevented our seeing where he would have taken his art. "Gunmetal" silver was one of the new finishes he added to pottery. He was first to add a bit of turquoise to a piece, also. Skunks became a favorite motif that he worked into his designs. After the death of both Popovi Da and Maria, grandson Tony Da picked up the family tradition of pottery and has carried the art even further into modern designs and styles. This beautiful book serves as an excellent visual and textual overview of Maria's exquisite pottery still unmatched in its fine lines, graceful shapes, and simplicity. As an introduction, there is a moving speech ("Indian Pottery and Indian Values") given in 1969 by Maria's son and fellow potter, Popovi Da, at the School of American Research before his untimely death in 1971.

Maria Martinez was an Indian woman from the San Ildefonso Pueblo in New Mexico.The date of her birth is estimated to be between 1881 and 1887. She learned her skills as a potter when she was a child, but went on to perfect her work and become one of the most gifted of the Pueblo potters. Her "black-on-black" style pottery is world famous.

Not far away from the San Ildefonso Pueblo is an ancient village site where the Anasazi Indians had lived. Dr Edgar Lee Hewitt led an archaeological expedition to the Anasazi site in 1908. The archaeologists found caves with artwork on the walls and also discovered pieces of Anasazi pottery. Julian Martinez, Maria's husband was one of the local men to be employed working for the archaeologists on that site. He used his drawing skills to copy the Anasazi drawings. Dr. Hewitt asked if Maria could try to duplicate the ancient pottery and he enlisted the help of Julian to paint the Anasazi designs on her work. Over the years, Maria and Julian created a lot of beautiful pottery. After Julian died in 1943, other members of the family worked with Maria creating the beautiful pieces that are cherished today. Maria Martinez died in 1980.

There are some great photographs of Maria, Julian and other members of the Martinez family at work on their pottery. Maria received many honors and acclaim during her life. In 1934, Eleanor Roosevelt invited her to be her guest at the White House.

My great grand mother would have been pleased to see the delight this story brings to her great great grandchildren's faces. The artwork brings back many fond memories. Pat Mora couldn't have chosen a better subject . Children will love the pictures and the simple tale this book has to offer.

I spent time with her in the early 70's. Before I was introduced to her, I had no idea who she was. Fancy that. I went to Huautla de Jimenez because a beautiful young woman, in Tampico, had told me to go there if I wanted to "see God". I was in the ministry of tourism, looking at a big map of Mexico. She saw me and remarked, I can see that you are looking for a "very special" map. I said, yes. She said, I can tell you where to go. I followed her advice, met someone who was well acquainted with Maria Sabina, and spent some time with her, participating in and learning about her Velada. Maria was in possession of a very special map, whose pathways she followed when she sang. At that time, I felt as if my entire journey had been conditioned by Strange Attractors to deliver me to this encounter at just this particular moment in time. In the Christian spiritual tradition, which Maria was apart of, there is a concept of a specific moment in time when history is swallowed up by eternity. This book is important for someone who wants a little more background information about her and wants a good translation of one of her veladas. The woman was an existential Saint. The significance of this is hard for sophisticated urbanites to entirely grasp. She was an extremely advanced and individuated master of spiritual healing. When she sang, it was as if her voice shaped space and time in such a way as to draw the perceptible boundary of another, superluminal, dimension. This book provides a little insight into her personal history, but if you are unfamiliar with her original cultural context, you will not be able to read between the lines, which is essential to understanding.

Written by an anthropologist who tells Maria's story through short stories as told to her by Maria. This book begins with Maria's accounting of pueblo life during her childhood. You learn of her life with her artistic, but alcoholic, husband Julian. An interesting accounting of their work which earned world acclaim for the unique pottery they produced. This book is a window to a time long forgotten and into the soul of a creative artist. The community spirit of the pueblo is well described and inspiring. You can't put this down once you begin. It's a great read!

I just got my copy of this book. It's been twenty years coming too. Recently, thinking of my old art teacher from college days, I decided to put up a webpage in memoriam.

The book, well, I've only read the pages directly relating to Stephen Naegle. It told me what happened with him and his family since I knew them in the early seventies. Stephen was a master watercolor painter. The book chronicles the last few decades of his life.

Thanks to Mary Carrol Nelson for compiling and writing this book. It blessed me to catch up with my old friend and teacher.

Anyone may view my effort to describe this great individual, Stephen Naegle, American Watercolor Painter, 1939-1981 on this website: (apparently the website link was removed).

Just use a search engine and search on these parameters and you will find the site where "In Memoriam" I talk about my old art teacher: Stephen Naegle, American Watercolor Painter, 1939-1981, thanks

Matt Field, a middling actor down on his luck, sickly, rejected twice by two different women when he proposed marriage, decided in 1839 to take a trip to Santa Fe with one of the trading caravans headed to that city from Independence, Missouri. Accompanied by a few friends, he steamboated from St. Louis to Independence, where in July he joined a small (18 men) caravan and set out across the plains. Going through Council Grove on to Bent's Fort, he continued over Raton Pass after which he left the main caravan and followed a trail to Taos and then down to Santa Fe. Thoroughly enjoying his stay in Santa Fe, but fearing a winter crossing of the plains, he left the capital late in September, took the Cimarron Cutoff, and made it back to Independence by the last day in October.

Fortunately for posterity, Field kept a journal of his trip, which is included here; he was also later hired by the New Orleans Picayune to write a number of articles based on his travels and experiences (they also are included here and make up the main portion of the book). A budding poet as well as an actor, Field turned his outward-bound journal into a long epic poem (the return leg remained in typical diary form). Though his poetic skills are not very good, this poem remains a unique document in the annals of western literature. The newspaper articles are another matter; they are superbly written and fascinating to read. The articles were meant to entertain readers, and hearsay and embellishment abound, but their bases are in fact and in what Field experienced. Everything seemed to be worthy of his attention and subsequent relating, from sights along the trail to humorous anecdotes related to him by others he met along the way. There is the obligatory grizzly bear story and thunderstorm-on-the-prairie story, but also more personal items such as a funeral in Taos and a wedding in Santa Fe. The articles ran for two years in the Picayune and as they still do today must have brought much enthusiasm to their first readers. The trade along the Santa Fe Trail was in decline by 1839, and to have Field's first-hand impressions of what it was like then is remarkable. It's among the half-dozen most important original works regarding the trail and the trade and the people who were involved with both, and it's a delight to read. Highly recommended.

The shipping is very fast and the book is too well preserved. A little expensive but is a rare book to obtain in Mexico. I am glad with the service.

Buettner and Mason hit the mark with this beautifully illustrated and well written narrative of their journey through the Mayan lands. This is a must have for all children and adults who have an interest in anthropology or who have ever dreamt of traveling through foreign lands.

Two Thumbs Up, Boys!

Grant Jones is consistently the best writer on the early colonial history of Belize and adjacent parts of Guatemala and Mexico. He knows the primary documents better than anyone else. He has a sophisticated, thoughtful and sympathetic approach. And best of all, he writes well. This is not bedtime reading, but for a serious scholar of the Spanish encounter with indigenous peoples, this is an invaluable and engrosing read.