San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts Catalog
Accession no. 2002.2.4
Type of work: Ceramic
Permanent Collection
Artist/creator: Damián Quezada
Variant forms of names: Damián Escársega Quezada
Artist biography: This pottery comes from the small Mexican village of Mata Ortiz in the state of Chihuahua. They are examples of a relatively new artistic movement initiated by Juan Quezada. As a young boy Juan roamed the countryside of Mata Ortiz and was intrigued by the pottery sherds he found, which were remnants of the Casas Grandes culture that had flourished between about 1000 and 1400. Quezada taught himself to make pottery and used the designs he found on these prehistoric sherds. His pottery was discovered by others in the 1970’s and quickly became sought after. Today many families in Mata Ortiz have learned to make beautiful pots and in a relatively short time the village has become a mecca for ceramic collectors. This piece was purchased from the artist in the village of Mata Ortiz, Mexico, while on a trip there undertaken by Jack Bleakley. Damián Quezada did not grow up in Mata Ortiz, and in 1992 he moved to Nuevo Casas Grandes and began making pots under the tutelage of his cousin Oscar and uncle Nicolás Quezada. He is a nephew of Juan Quezada. One of his unique characteristics is the manner in which he lays out designs on his jars. The surface is divided into five, six, or eight divisions of identically repeated elements. Most potters prefer to divide their designs into either three or four sections.
Title of work: Untitled
Date of item: 2001
Dimensions: 10 ½”h x 8 ¼” diameter; (26.67 x 20.955 cm)
Description: Round bottomed pot from Mata Ortiz, Mexico. Tall, oval shaped pot with a five-part design. Red and black mineral oxide paint on white clay. Geometric designs.
Material: clay
Medium: Ceramic
Country of origin: Mexico
Condition: Good - from Condition Report 12/19/01
Conservation future: None required from Acceptance Authorization, February 20, 2002.
GIFT
Provenance: Donated to SAMFA by Jack and Marian Bleakley on December 11, 2001.
Donor information: Jack and Marian Bleakley
History of object: Purchased from artist by Jack Bleakley and donated to SAMFA. Accepted by SAMFA, February 20, 2002.
Credit line: Gift of Jack and Marian Bleakley.
Cataloger name: Karen Zimmerly
August 8, 2005
Sources used: Museum file
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