Talking with the Clay: The Art of Pueblo Pottery in the 21st Century

by Stephen Trimble

In this revised, expanded, and redesigned edition, Trimble brings his 1987 classic into the twenty-first century with interviews and photographs from a new generation of potters working to preserve the miraculous balance between tradition and innovation.

When you hold a Pueblo pot in your hands, you feel a tactile connection through the clay to the potter and to centuries of tradition. You will find no better guide to this feeling than Talking with the Clay. Stephen Trimble's photographs capture the spirit of Pueblo pottery in its stunning variety, from the glittering micaceous jars of Taos Pueblo to the famous black ware of San Ildefonso Pueblo, from the bold black-on-white designs of Acoma Pueblo to the rich red and gold polychromes of the Hopi villages. His portraits of potters communicate the elegance and warmth of these artists, for this is the potters' book. Revealed through dozens of conversations, their stories and dreams span seven generations and more than a century, revealing how pottery making helps bridge the gap between worlds, between humans and clay, springing from old ways but embracing change.

Genres: Art

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1987

About the author

As writer, editor, and photographer, Stephen Trimble has published 25 award-winning books during 45 years of paying attention to the landscapes and peoples of the Desert West. He’s received The Sierra Club's Ansel Adams Award for photography and conservation and a Doctor of Humane Letters from his alma mater, Colorado College. In 2019, he was honored as one of Utah’s 15 most influential artists.

Trimble speaks and writes as a conservation advocate and has taught writing at the University of Utah. He makes his home in Salt Lake City and in the redrock country of Torrey, Utah. Environmental historian James Aton has said: Trimble's books comprise one of the most well-rounded, sustained, and profound visions of people and landscape that we have ever seen in the American West.

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why that beautiful Pueblo pottery costs so much :-)

[W F · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers a potter-focused introduction to Pueblo pottery, covering all 19 Pueblo nations in NM and Arizona. It’s been almost 20 years since its publication, but most of the struggles faced by the potters then are still relevant today, maybe even more so: How to reconcile tradition with individual artistic expression? And how to preserve the intimate connection to your ancestors and to the clay when market forces are pushing pueblo pottery to be increasingly commodified? There are some nuggets of deep wisdom and laugh-out-loud moments. I wish the book could feature fewer potters but with more in-depth analysis of their work and beliefs, and provide smoother transition from one potter to the next (the book is inclined to jump from one to the other with little segue). The photos are mesmerizing but most times the potters and their work do not get a picture, making it confusing for the reader. Again, this problem may be solved if focusing on a select few potters instead of trying to cram everybody in. 4 out of 5 stars.

[Lorraine McCleary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely book on SW pueblo pottery. Who knew how difficult it is to find the clay, mix it with sand or other materials, shape and apply different slicks, and then paint. What an art. Beautiful photos of the people and arts by Stephan Tremble, a park ranger from Capital Reef.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had been sitting on my shelf for years a webinar with Steve Trimble inspired me to read it. It is fabulous. He describes the relationship between potters and pottery-making beautifully. I will never look at a Pueblo pot the same again.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Profiles of various Pueblo potters. There's some discussion of local variations in pottery and the materials and techniques used, but the focus is on the artists and their backgrounds. Beautiful photographs - I would have like even more of them!

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's kind of a sales pitch, but there are great stories about the artists and their methods.

[Marjorie Elwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely overview of Pueblo pottery, this includes snippets of interviews with the potters, some history of southwestern pottery, and a look into the future of this art form.