Modernly Ancestral: 2016
Virgil Ortiz continues to bring his story of the Pueblo Revolt 1680/2180 to life. His clay figures and vessels tell a dramatic story that flows seamlessly from past to future. Resilience, perseverance, honor and history are the themes which he continues to explore. Ortiz has expanded from simply traditional clay, materials and firing to contemporary clay to tell his story on a larger and more complex scale than ever before. As he says, ‘the clay is the clay’ and he lets it speak through his hands and continue the story.
Pueblo Revolt 1680/2180…the story continues…
2180
“I AM TRANSLATOR…
I bring you revelations concerning the events of the Pueblo Revolt 1680/2180.
I see both the past and present, bringing word of the Translator Army and the Watchmen. New diversionary tactics by the Castilian are creating an ever more cautious approach to the invaders. The Earth worlds watch the bold posturing on both sides.”
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| “Translator Time-Shift” 26″h (click here) SOLD |
“I have called forth the Rez Spine WATCHMEN. They watch over the lands of Tahu, Mopez and Po’Pay. They await my orders to transport Tahu’s automaton infantry to strategic positions on earth and her moon. The time for their intervention has yet to arrive.”
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Advised by Translator, Tahu the Blind Archer and Mopez, Leader of the Runners, are sent to meet with Tsin, a StarGazer. The StarGazers are descendants of both Native and Castilian. They are gatherers, travelers and seers of the future. They are called to protect the ancient sites and reveal their mysteries to those found worthy.
As Tsin approaches, they see the distinctive Turkey Track design on his forehead, a symbol reflective of both his name and rank among the StarGazers.
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| StarGazer Tsin, 12″h (click here) |
Tsin leads them to a remote area outside the villages and camps. He has seen the future and knows the past. A silent trek yet filled with ominous portents of the future for both Castilian and Native. He stops at a blank cliff, the tattooed track glows and he traces a similar design into the ground. “The turkey track leads us so that others may not follow our path”. The ground gives way, a door appears…they enter…
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Upon reaching their descent, Tsin stops to pour water from an usually shaped vessel.
Tsin nods for them to approach the opening in the underground cave. Their path is flooded with light as they walk. It is everywhere yet no point of origin. Tahu and Mopez feel the intensity as past and future collide. They stop…a moment of awe as they enter a cavernous room… |
StarGazers guarding the entrance step aside as they enter. They are the Seers and the Keepers of the future-past.
Tahu and Mopez find themselves surrounded by clay vessels and clay masks which fill the room, catching and reflecting the mysterious light.
They regard the symbols, forms and designs. Some are known. Some are too ancient to remember and others too far into the future to yet ascertain their meaning.
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| StarGazers Jar, 14″h |
“Who knows how the past and future meet in one place” says Tsin. “I have brought you here to see the clay. In the past these were relegated to the side as trinkets and broken as idols. Today they are used to send messages of resilience and keep alive our past. The future tell of both our victories and defeats. Few understand they are a metaphor for our perseverance. The clay has brought you here to keep the story alive. It asks to be part of your story, to tell the truth of the past and the hardships both ancient and to come.”
“Modernly ancestral”. The words come to each of them simultaneously. The past speaks while the future beckons. How to tell the ancient form the new? Does it matter? Clay is clay and the changes over time speak only to the keeping the stories and messages alive. Tahu and Mopez understand why Translator has helped lead them here.
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“The masks and vessels. The clay. The past. The future. All are portents to the destruction and victories to come…
...I am Translator. “
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| Virgil Ortiz |