Demonstration of Native Arts

Date: February 4, 2014
Contact: Karl Cordova, 520-723-3172

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—February 4, 2014

Karl Cordova, Superintendent  [phone]

Casa Grande Ruins Offers Special Exhibitors

  Native Basketry and Pottery – February 22 & 23, 2014

COOLIDGE, AZ– Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is featuring Mary Pablo, basket weaver, on Saturday, February 22 and pottery makers Ron Carlos and Jacob Butler on Sunday, February 23.  "The skill and patience in making container art in the traditional Native American Style takes years of study" said park Superintendent Karl Cordova. "This weekend we will feature three talented artisans who will share their art, their methods of creating that art, and their stories of how they came to value their heritage through their art." 

There is no additional fee for the special presentation, but visitors must enter the visitor center and pay the usual park entrance fees. In the atrium on Saturday, Mrs. Pablo will be making baskets as well as selling recently made baskets she has created this past year. On Sunday the atrium tables will be displaying pottery and art by Ron Carlos and Jacob Butler. Ron makes pottery in the traditional style of the O'odham people using the paddle and anvil technique. He uses locally mined natural clays that are hand dug and hand processed by family members and himself. All of his pottery is "cooked" on an open fire using mesquite wood and cottonwood bark. Jacob does the design work on the pottery using all natural pigment and no commercial materials.

 Casa Grande Ruins National Monument protects the multi-story 'Great House' and the ruins of other ancient structures built by the people of the Sonoran Desert over 800 years ago. Established as the nation's first archeological reserve in 1892, the Ruins sparked the beginning of the archeological preservation movement in America. The Monument is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Directions and additional information are available on the Monument's website, https://www.nps.gov/cagr, or you may call [phone].

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