La Junta Pottery Workshop: Reviving Ancestral Artistry
Four-day pottery workshop led by Christina Hernandez (Lipan Apache), Founder and Director of People of La Junta for Preservation
La Junta Pottery Workshop: Reviving Ancestral Artistry
October 2024: Events celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day included a four-day pottery workshop led by Christina Hernandez (Lipan Apache), Founder and Director of People of La Junta for Preservation. Participants learned the foundational techniques of La Junta-style pottery, an art form deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of the region.
Throughout the workshop, attendees engaged in every step of the traditional process — from mixing native clay and kneading it by hand to shaping vessels and creating original designs. As they worked, they discussed the history, legacy, and significance of pottery making in La Junta, a practice that has long connected generations of people to the land and to one another.
“Teaching the people of La Junta the lost art of pottery making with native clays and traditional techniques was a vital way to reconnect to cultural traditions and ancestral knowledge,” said Hernandez. “This practice not only preserved the unique artistic methods passed down through generations, but also strengthened our relationship to the land by utilizing locally sourced, natural materials.”
At the end of the workshop, students returned to complete the process by participating in a traditional pit firing, an ancient technique that transformed their clay pieces into durable, functional, and symbolic works of art.
The workshop was envisioned by elder Roberto Lujan and Christina Hernandez as part of a series of knowledge-sharing programs honoring Indigenous Peoples’ Day, hosted in collaboration with Big Bend Conservation Alliance. We extended our gratitude to the families, teachers, and high school art students whose participation brought this cultural revival to life.
This event was made possible with generous support from the Mellon Foundation.
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