Pottery of Mexico Vol 1: Pineapples of Patamban and San José de Gracia
Updated: Jan 14, 2019
Pottery has been made both for use and decoration in Mexico since pre-columbian times, and in many villages the same methods and traditions are still in use today. Michoacán state, located in the southwestern part of Mexico, is especially rich in crafts-producing villages, each one with its unique product. Most work is for local consumption, though some produce grander works for a wider audience. In this video, a potter and a filmmaker work together to beautifully document potters in two neighboring villages: Patamban and San José de Gracia.
This documentary covers how the potters produce their low-fire pieces from start to finish. Local clay is collected, processed, shaped in bisque molds, embellished with applied sprig textures, and then fired in wood-burning kilns. The film also reveals a culture of sustainability in which each generation gathers its materials locally and creates tools from what is at hand.
Run time: 40 minutes
Copyright 2008 Extended Family Productions
All rights reserved
Produced by Lisa Orr
Directed and Edited by Troy Lanier