Master Potters of the Southern Deserts

When: October 2 – 12, 2009
Where: Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico
How Much: $2,495 per person ($350 single supplement)

Join us in Phoenix for a magical journey through time studying some of the world’s most beautiful pottery crafted by people from the Hohokam, Mimbres, and Casas Grandes regions, and replicated by modern masters today.  Our trek leads us through southern Arizona and New Mexico and into northern Mexico, where we’ll see the magnificent trading center of Casas Grandes (Paquimé).  Archaeological experts will join us throughout the trip.

Friday, October 2
Join us at the Fiesta Inn in Phoenix for a cocktail party and an introductory lecture on pottery.  We’ll spend the next two evenings at the Fiesta Inn.

Saturday, October 3
In the morning we’ll visit Pueblo Grande, an ancient Hohokam platform mound complex.  In the afternoon, we’ll tour the Heard Museum and its large collection of Hohokam, Mimbres, and Southwestern pottery.

Sunday, October 4
We’ll visit the Hohokam sites of Casa Grande National Monument and the nearby Grewe site, a Conservancy preserve.  Then we’ll travel to Tucson to visit the mission of San Xavier del Bac and its restored interior murals.  The mission was founded by Father Kino prior to A.D. 1700.  We’ll spend the next two evenings at the Hilton Tucson East.  In the evening, we’ve planned a lecture on Hohokam pottery.

Monday, October 5
We’ll visit the Sonoran Desert Museum, known for its extensive native plant and animal species.  At the Arizona State Museum, a curator will take us on a rare behind-the-scenes tour of the museum’s pottery collection that is usually only available to researchers.  In the evening, we’ll attend a talk about the Hohokam culture.

Tuesday, October 6
In Silver City we’ll visit Western New Mexico University Museum’s private collection of Mimbres painted pottery, usually limited to researchers.  We’ll spend two evenings at the Holiday Inn Express.  In the evening, there will be a talk on Mimbres pottery.

Wednesday, October 7
We’ll travel through the spectacular Gila Wilderness to explore Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument as well as several Mimbres villages.

Thursday, October 8
After a stop at the Deming Museum to see its Mimbres collections, we’ll enter Mexico and travel to Nuevo Casas Grandes where we will spend the next three nights at the Motel Hacienda.  In the evening, there will be an orientation lecture about Casas Grandes.

Friday, October 9
We’ll spend the day touring Casas Grandes, perhaps the most impressive ruin in the Southwest.  From A.D. 1060 to 1340 Casas Grandes dominated Southwestern trade, religion, and culture.   The vast ruins include a domestic water system, high-rise apartment buildings, heated sleeping rooms, a ballcourt and a large marketplace. 

Saturday, October 10
We’ll travel to the pottery village of Mata Ortiz, home to Juan Quezada, who is credited with reviving the Casas Grandes pottery tradition.  Many families in Mata Ortiz make pottery using the same materials, techniques, and decorative styles as those used at Casas Grandes.

Sunday, October 11
We’ll travel to El Paso and spend the evening at the Wyndham El Paso Airport Hotel.

Monday, October 12
Participants depart for home from El Paso.

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