The Living Tradition of Maria Martinez (1989)

One of the great figures in modern pottery and crafts, Maria Martinez, along with her husband, Julian, perfected the magnificent burnished black ware which is prized by collectors and museums throughout the United States and Europe. Recipient of the Western Heritage Award, The Living Tradition of Maria Martinez chronicles the life and work of this major Native American artist-from the rediscovery of the ancient black-on-black pottery technique and its perfection to Martinez's rise to prominence. In this intimate portrait, Susan Peterson traces the development of Maria's talent and vision, and records her success in passing on traditional Indian pottery techniques to the next generations. The 200 color and 140 black-and-white photographs amply document the techniques, the pueblo ambience, and the Martinez family's signature pieces. This book is the culmination of the author's thirty-year association with Maria and her family. And as the only major book about her since Alice Marriott's classic work in 1948 (reprinted in 1987), its return to print will be welcomed by the thousands of collectors, craftspeople, and historians throughout the country.… (more)