Ortiz’s sisters. Lisa Holt is his niece. These individuals make ceramics using both traditional and contemporary methods. It was from his grandmother and his mother that Virgil learned to dig for clay, collect wild plants, and to coil the clay by hand to make vessels and figures – a practice he and his extended family members continue to this day.
When viewing the work of the Ortiz family, it is important to understand not only the materials but the process. All types of clay are native to Cochiti Pueblo: the clay is naturally red, with
white bentonite clay used as slip – possibly
taking eight applications to achieve an even coat. Preparing the red clay – breaking it down, soaking it, and mixing it with temper – can take up to a year. Coils made from the clay are stacked one on top of the other to provide the shape of the vessel. The layers are then blended, and the entire vessel is smoothed and made uniform in and out. Being left to dry for two to three weeks reveals the structural soundness of the piece.
Once it is dry, sandpaper is applied to achieve a smooth surface. Paint made from the boiled
wild spinach – which has undergone a process
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Right:
Virgil Ortiz, Seferina Ortiz, and Guadalupe Ortiz, 1990s.
Photo Courtesy of:
Virgi Ortiz