Pottery of Mexico Vol 1: Pineapples of Patamban and San José de Gracia (DVD)

Format: DVD Run Time: 40 minutes Studio: Extended Family Productions (2008) Language: English Dimensions: 5.4" x 7.5" x 0.6" Shipping Weight: 0.20 lbs.

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 revels a culture of sustainability in which each generation gathers its materials locally and creates tools from what is at hand.