New Gallery Location

In July of 2006, the Gallery relocated from its former address at Morelos 101 Local 3 B to a more central location in the downtown Art Section of Puerto Vallarta. The new location is 176 Corona St (one block and a half from the Malecon).

History and Current Events:

Ron Schneider, our buyer, is an aficionado and ardent collector of Mata Ortiz pottery. About twelve years ago he accidentally came across a piece in a sale at Price Club (now Costco) of what was billed as Native American Arts and Crafts. He inquired about the piece (a fish effigy by Reynalda Quezada) at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona and learned the story of the village. Subsequently he met some of the potters displaying their works and demonstrating the making of the pottery at a demonstration in Old Town San Diego. His growing interest took him to the University of New Mexico Art Museum 1985 show of Mata Ortiz pottery where the works of 26 of Mata Ortiz’s finest potters were on exhibit. Fascinated by the beautiful varied pieces he saw there, he and his wife went to the village in May of 1985 where he bought over 50 pieces for himself. Then he began to have “pot parties” in his backyard. A few years later, he and his daughter who lived in Puerto Vallarta opened Galeria de Ollas.

In ten years Ron made over fifty trips to the village to do the buying while his daughter, Denice oversaw the gallery. During that time he became friends with many of the potters and learned a great deal about how they created such beautiful works. Just recently they sold the gallery to their long time sales person, Carolina Orozco Medrano who had also become an aficionado of the pottery. She will lovingly continue the traditions of Galeria de Ollas. Ron will assist by offering his exhaustive expertise and knowledge of the Art and people of Mata Ortiz as well as buying the highest quality pots available from not only the well known artists but also from the talented new ones.

A new website, still called www.galeriadeollas.com will offer beautiful Ollas from the gallery in Puerto Vallarta. Additionally, the site will offer pots from both Ron’s personal collection in San Diego and from a new partner’s collection in Atlanta, Ga.

Vision of the Gallery and its Art

“I am surrounded by the beauty of Mata Ortiz Pottery. Every time I look closely at a piece and observe its detail I think of the person creating it. Every one of the ceramists is an artist in the purest sense of the word. Why is this?

Each Olla is formed entirely by hand using clay coils and yet the potter creates almost perfect symmetry. The artist creates perfect balance. One might conclude that the little town so far from the rush of our big cities gives the artist a special setting so they can concentrate in a way that allows creativity at the highest level.

Great patience is required as the potter sands and burnishes every inch of the pot to generate a smooth shinny surface. When you touch the pot you feel the freshness of the clay as your hands slide over the surface sensing its silk texture. The artist now paints the piece. The potter must have very skillful hands in order to paint circles and straight lines which complement the aesthetics of its rounded surface.

It takes much love for the work to reach this high level of perfection. This love is displayed in each Olla and that is significant as people fall in-love with Mata Ortiz pottery.

The people in the State of Chihuahua have a very distinctive way of thinking. The history of this state is one of survival. The severe weather - very hot in the summer and windy cold winters - tends to mold the character of its people. To achieve success they must dedicate a lifetime to their vocation and that is the requirement of Mata Ortiz Artists. It took Juan Quezada about 15 years to achieve the perfection of creating pots and painting designs with lines starting and ending like the notes of a concert's beautiful melody.

Because of this lifetime commitment, Juan is known worldwide as one of the great masters of Mexican art. Perhaps the best part of this story is his willingness to teach and share with family and neighbors his many experiences in developing this special art. There are now about 400 potters as children learn from their parents and neighbors the skills to form and paint each Olla. These ceramics are now known by the name of the small town: Mata Ortiz.”