Anthony Durand facts for kids

Anthony Durand (1956–2009) was a talented Pueblo potter from Picuris Pueblo in New Mexico, United States. He was born in Cortez, Colorado. His grandparents raised him at Picuris Pueblo.

Anthony went to school in Peñasco, New Mexico. He later attended college at New Mexico Highlands University. When he came back to Picuris in 1976, he wanted to make sure the special Picuris way of making pottery did not disappear.

Saving a Special Tradition

Anthony learned a lot from his grandmother, Cora Durand. In 1976, only Cora and Francis Martinez were still making traditional Picuris pottery. Anthony was inspired by his grandmother. Within a year, he was making pottery full-time.

The Picuris people used a special clay called "micaceous clay." This clay has tiny shiny flakes in it. The most important place to get this clay was about four and a half miles east of their village. In the Tiwa language, it was called “Mowlownan-a.” This means “pot dirt place.”

This site was important for more than 400 years. It had the best clay. It also had deep religious and cultural meaning for the Picuris people.

In the 1960s, mining started in the area. The clay source was fenced off. This made it very hard for potters to get the clay. By the mid-1990s, the Picuris people could no longer reach “Mowlownan-a.” The site is now covered by waste rock from mining.

Anthony's Unique Pottery Style

Because of the mining, Anthony started trying clays from other places. He also experimented with different ways to make his pottery smooth and shiny. He used gray sandstone as a special ingredient called "temper." This gave his pottery a unique look.

The Picuris area has a micaceous material. When used as a thin coating, it makes the pottery very shiny. Picuris pottery was traditionally made for cooking. So, it does not have painted designs. Instead, it has sculpted details. The pottery often has a greenish-gold color. This color is special to Picuris Pueblo.

Anthony found an old Picuris pot that had no signature. He used it as an example. He was able to create the traditional golden color and high shine. This look became a standard for his own work. He also got ideas for his molded details from pottery pieces found in the old Picuris Pueblo ruins. He used cedar wood when firing his pottery. This helped him get the beautiful gold finish.

His Achievements

By the 1980s, Anthony's pottery was very popular. It was sold in shops and art galleries. He also sold his work at the famous Santa Fe Indian Market. He sold pieces at the Picuris Arts and Crafts Fair too.

In 1995, he shared a booth with his grandmother, Cora Durand. This was at the Micaceous Pottery Artists Convocation. This event was held at the School of American Research.

Anthony won many awards for his pottery. He received several awards and honorable mentions at the Santa Fe Indian Market. He also won first place awards for traditional pottery at the Picuris Tri-Cultural Fair.

Anthony Durand passed away in 2009. He was 53 years old.