Vessel c. early 20th century

This is a ceramic vessel made by Maria Martinez; it has no date. You know, with clay, it’s all about the way the hand and the earth meet. It’s such a tactile experience, to form something out of nothing but mud, really. The burnished surface of this pot is mesmerizing, changing from a matte black to a shimmering grey depending on how the light hits it. It's not just the color, but the texture, the way the clay has been smoothed and polished that feels so sensual. Look at that stylized bird form, and how its curved lines contrast with the sharp angles of the geometric shapes surrounding it. It makes me think of Lucie Rie. They both have that way of making the material speak, letting the process be visible in the final form. It’s art as conversation; with material, with form, with history.