Mesa Verde Pottery: Replication and History

Southwestern POTTERY

History & Replication Workshop

June 1 - June 6, 2025 ~ Santa Fe, New Mexico

Join an intimate group to explore the history

and ceramics from the Desert Southwest. Using

only traditional materials from the Four Corners

area, students will be guided through the process

of replicating Ancestral Puebloan pottery. Each

participant will hand build a collection of forms

and be instructed on how to build, slip, polish,

and paint their pots. The workshop includes a

visit to a local museum to get a closer look at excavated

pottery and speak with an expert on prehistoric

ceramics. Our work culminates with a trench

firing of the pots we’ve created together.

No previous clay experience necessary to enjoy

this hands-on experience.

Cost: $575 for first time students and

$475 for returning students.

Cost includes all materials you’ll need to make at least two to three pots.

2026 Workshop Agenda

Sunday, May 31st

Jeff and Bob set up workshop studio at

Academy for the Classics and Arts (ATC) in Santa Fe

Monday, June 1st - First Day of the Workshop at Academy for the Classics & Arts (ATC)

74 A Van Nu Po, Santa Fe, NM

9:00 a.m. – Build first piece of pottery

Finish drawing on design on bowl provided

Brush-Making Demonstration

Begin painting instructor-provided bowl

Build second piece (and third piece if desired)

Apply white slip to piece(s) created in the morning

5:00 p.m. – Adjourn for the day

Tuesday, June 2nd

8:30 a.m. - Meet in Albuquerque for breakfast at the Frontier Restaurant near

University of New Mexico - 2400 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106

9:30 a.m. – Tour UNM Middle Rio Grande ceramic collection at Maxwell Museum of Anthropology - 500 University Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106

11:30 a.m. – Leave for Santa Fe

12:15 p.m. – Lunch in Santa Fe

1:00 p.m. arrive at Academy for the Classics & Arts (ATC) - 74 A Van Nu Po, Santa Fe, NM

Introduce materials and process for making black-on-white wares

and polychrome pottery.

Select design for painting instructor-provided bowl and begin drawing on bowl

5:00 p.m. -Adjourn for the day

Wednesday, June 3rd

9:00 a.m. Finish painting first piece

Polish 2nd piece

Draw designs on 2nd piece created

Begin painting 2nd piece

5:00 p.m. Adjourn for the day

Thursday, June 4th

Finish Painting 2nd piece

Polish and paint 3rd Piece

Friday, June 5th

9:00 a.m. Finish all work on pots, clean up studio

12:00 – Lunch

3:00 - Travel to Galisteo with pots and load them into kiln

5:00 Adjourn for the day

6:30 p.m. Gather for dinner at local restaurant in Santa Fe

Saturday, June 6th

Travel to Galisteo to unload kiln starting at 9:00 a.m. Time is variable depending on kiln firing time.

End of workshop

Maxwell Museum of Anthropology - Pottery Collections Tour

The workshop includes a group visit to the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico. The Maxwell holds more than 4,500 partial or complete archaeological ceramic vessels and figurines, along with millions of ceramic sherds, dating from at least as far back as 3000 B.C. through the historic period. The Museum is best known for its Southwestern collection. This opportunity to view the extensive ceramics collection will fuel our learning and inspire our creations.

Your workshop hosts

BOB CASIAS

Bob graduated with a degree in Anthropology and participated in excavations on

the Dolores Archaeological Project in the early 1980’s where he first encountered

Mesa Verde pottery. Bob has had his hands in clay since high school and studied

under Clint Swink to understand the hand building and firing techniques that

reproduce the extraordinary art forms that originated with the early potters of the

Southwest. He has been recreating these designs for over 20 years and welcomes

the interest of new students to this amazing art form.

JEFF OSGOOD

Jeff has worked with clay since 1997 and came to replica pottery-making through

his passion and explorations of the canyons and mesas of the Colorado Plateau.

As an educator, Jeff has led trips to Four Corners region and guided a variety of

students through the pottery replica process.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT, CALL OR EMAIL.

Bob Casias: potteryoftheancients@gmail.com

(505) 670-1205

Jeff Osgood : jeff.osgood@watershedschool.org

(720) 341-5394

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