Paddle and Anvil: A Piipaash Pottery Tradition

In conjunction with the 58th Annual Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market, the Guild and the museum commissioned a documentary on Maricopa (Piipaash) pottery traditions. The film was produced by Steven Yazzie (Navajo) with Piipaash potter Ron Carlos demonstrating pottery making. Ron Carlos creates pottery from all natural materials using the paddle and anvil method. All clays and pigments are hand dug and processed by Carlos and other family members. The film chronicles the process from digging the clay to firing the pot and provides insight into the time intensive process of Native pottery techniques.

[@HeardMuseum]

IN MEMORIAM: The Heard Museum extends its sympathy to the family of Ron Carlos (Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community) who passed away on May 3, 2023. Carlos was a master Piipaash potter who created pottery from all natural materials using the paddle and anvil method. When you visit the Heard, take a moment to watch the film “Paddle and Anvil: A Piipaash Pottery Tradition” in our Harnett Theater featuring Ron demonstrating pottery making.

[@about2mount]

He returns. So it's not a such a sad thing.

[@ivargasbushcrafts]

I still can't believe he is gone. Such a great loss to the community. 😢💔I'm so lucky I got to take a class with him at his home for a whole weekend. He took us through the entire process. It was so satisfying to see the finished product after the firing, which we also did at his home in the backyard, and with some spectacular sunsets like in this video! RIP Ron, you are so missed ❤

[@TheBlackSheepDiaries]

You are so lucky my friend. I'm just starting this pottery journey after recently learning how to make baskets from kudzu vines. I'm in Georgia where we have super sticky red clay and some grey clay at a river that might be even better for this. I can see failure is around every corner, and you surely learned many things there to help avoid that. I'm very sorry about your friend, but he is in a better place now for sure, and he was a happy guy you can tell. That's something not all of us have sometimes. I think he would be happy that I am traveling down this path that is long forgotten, and to know how much I enjoyed this video. Take care friend.

[@HeardMuseum]

We agree, Ron was a treasure to the community and he will be deeply missed. Luckily, guests can visit the museum to see this exact film in our HOME exhibition. We're honored that we have this on video for future generations to see.

[@tomjoy2981]

This isn't just a normal pottery video, its more than that.

[@alanhatcher9302]

Rest well , you're words and image are what is the core of our historical memory , and this allows us to observe and visit for many generations to come

[@joyceibenedict2168]

I am 78 yrs old and just learning about pottery! The best Videos I have watched are with The Native People. They are simple and Easy to learn from. You can really feel a their Spirit in the Videos. They are the true Artists of the World .Thanks RON beautiful Video

[@pawthead7902]

I WORKED WITH RON WHEN I WAS A TEEN WITH MY FATHER TEACHING ME OLD SONGS AND SANG AT WAKES FOR TRADITIONAL FAMILIES AND ALSO AT THE HEATD MUSEUM

[@bobm2331]

Your work is a prayer. The calm gentle manner of your technique is almost a meditation. Well done. I am a novice potter and have learned so much about ancient pottery from Andy Ward and now you. Have faith it will live on.

[@about2mount]

When firing the pots you're suppose to dance and sing around the fire and cry out,,,,,,,,,,, hot-a-pot-a, a--hot-a-pot-a, a-hot-a-pot-a. Loved your documentary.

[@preetamsingh8575]

Beautiful native Pottery. Beautiful native man 💚🙏🏽

[@violetsands]

beautiful work - i trained as a potter in the UK and i am fascinated by the traditional methods of pottery from all over the world. I hope that this beautiful art form is not lost but all over the world less and less people know the joy of making and the skills of pottery and the creative art of mixing all the elements together air, earth, water and fire to create something that will last for generations.

[@sandgrains3418]

Please, I'm looking for someone who can teach me this primitive craft,

[@svenlundergard1]

This is BEAUTIFUL and so interesting. Ron Carlos' work is so precise and gorgeous. So sad that this beautiful tradition is fading due to overuse of video games and social media. He didn't say that but I see it happening everywhere with everything. I love how connected to the earth he is, collecting the clay straight from the ground and making his pottery in a traditional way. wow. Very well done film.

[@bje2920]

RIP MY friend you was a big help to me with my pottery

[@southwestnative2335]

Earlier today I just found out that my good friend Ron Carlos has passed away. My condolence to his family rest in peace my friend 😢

[@oddacious0ne]

Where I live the clay is everywhere. Literally

[@loril.mangold8160]

Wow Thank you, from Iowa, your pottery is Beautiful, I scupt animals, Bear, gorrilla, giraffe, dogs, cows, cats, sheep, I Love animals, and I love the feel of clay, I remember clay between my toes, when I was a kid, soft, slippery, warm, supple, feeling, it could be compared, all the way back, to our Birth feeling. I Love working with clay, I love finding stones like you said, if I like it I use it, if not, I put it back. Thank you for Sharing this Wonderful part of your life with us. I don't think people are aware of how much time, and work goes into the entire process of creating something with your hands. Like you showed driving out to where your clay is, then shoveling and digging it, then mortis and pestal pounding it into dust, sorting out the rocks, adding enough water to make it pliable and wet again, forming Something Beautiful that you Created from Spirit, taking the time to dry your vessel, then making slip/ paint sieving that through cloth to make it a usable liquid, then spending time painting your own design, then drying it, or burnishing your pot, then collecting firewood, watching that fire burn down to coals, Hours, then putting your pot in the galvanized tub, and building another fire, and burning that until almost morning, that film you made, how many days was that? Total the whole process, weeks, a month? We can watch it in 20 or 30 minutes, but that is a lot of work, days, and days, and days, you are an excellent teacher. Thank you

[@julieduke7279]

Thankyou Ron for sharing your wisdom and beautiful artistry. I have just begun to dig clay on my own property and learn the properties and possibilities and limitations of each variety. So far, we have a terracotta type which has proven itself to midfire temps (1220deg C). The other types are an creamy apricot colour and a dark grey which are slaking down in buckets. I love being up to my elbows in mud!! The natural beauty in hand harvested clay is a thing of wonder.

[@katiakatiakat]

what a lovely man. thank you for keeping this beautiful tradition alive.

[@roxiepoe9586]

This is beautiful. I am a spoiled potter with an electric kiln, buy my clay in bags, use commercial glazes, but I still feel such a pull in my heart toward Ron Carlos and his work.

[@celinetremblay778]

I feel he was the spoiled one..going trough the process from clay searching to fire cooking while watching the stars..a profound communion with all around you. I wish he had not departed so you could go trough the process with him..Follow your heart ....

[@hakeem4802]

Put a tear in my eyes. So gently spoken.

[@carljensen5730]

Wow! That is a beautiful pot. I live on a ranch and I make fired clay figurines from the clay on the property. I also fire it in an outdoor fire. For me, the art involves studying ancient cultures from thousands of years ago to understand why they made some of the things they did. I think we can see the beginnings of spiritual beliefs in ancient pottery, stone carvings, and buildings. I am particularly drawn to Stonehenge and Tell Brak. The tools and methods are simple, but I like to think that the creations link us to our ancient ancestors, not as a clan, but as inhabitants of earth.

[@mattmoore1311]

I'm a hobby blacksmith, among other things. I agree with much of what you say about people not engaging. I needed to "clay" a forge. So I did some reading, did some looking around, and dug some local clay. I read some more, processed it to clean it, lined my forge, and kept the rest. That was a few years ago, this summer, I took some of that clay, and made some simple pots, fired them in my backyard fire pit. I learned a hell of a lot! I also enjoyed it much more than my ceramics classes way back in high school, where we used store bought clay, and someone else did the firing in a gas forge. I think I'd have learned much more if my instructor had started us with digging our own from a bank. I teach a basic forging class once a year, sometimes more often. The once a year, is for community college students, the happenstance ones have been with local rednecks. The two groups have a completely different feel to them. The college kids are mostly similar young age, mostly city, indoors, kind of people. Some have never done anything manual like this before. There's usually been one guy in that class, always been male, that's from Mexico or central America, who I have some trouble communicating with because of language, but if I show that guy how to do it, I only have to show him once, and he runs with it. One of the things they make is a hot cut chisel. The guy from Mexico was asking, with difficulty, if his chisel would work on wood. We spent some time, as I worked it out with him, how he could change a couple of things to make it a good chisel for rough work like a framing carpenter would need. The other students, one or two really take two it, most of the rest muddle through, have fun, but as you worry, don't take any of it serious. The 2nd group, rural people, are quieter, and have been a mix of teen age boys, and mature men. The second group is much more serious, the boys are tempered by the older men, but eventually get bored, and get distracted at times, but keep coming back, because the men keep going. I find the second group easier to teach, and they take to it more, but I think the first group needs the exposure more. I worry about our young people.

[@user-lb4og3nd8k]

СПАСИБО ДА БЛАГОСЛОВИТ ТЕБЯ БОГ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@randythomas219]

What a special artist with great talent, enjoyed the video very much. Had a friend that's been gone for quite a few years who was a Catawba potter, she buried her pots in the ground and built a fire over the top of it. Love seeing these talented artists carrying on traditions that have been passed down.

[@donalhartman6235]

Beautifully done. I've been to Phoenix many times, and never realized how much the area provides for those who know how to tap is natural resources to create beautiful pottery. Thanks, Ron.

[@lizharrison5052]

Amazing video. Thank you for all the thoughtfulness that went into this presentation. Mr. Carlos is a shining example of dedication to cultural awareness. So willing to teach and humble about his own knowledge. Blessings for sharing. Hope to see more. Would like to know more about the wood used in his fires, how long and how hot, because of the colors and effects on the clay. Also how he tempers the clay to make it strong.

[@igcov7196]

What a wonderful video. Thank you so much.

[@belindakimbro4795]

I hope that Ron is still teaching and monitoring these comments. Due to Covid-19 my usual process of creating and firing etc. I had always wanted to go back to pit firing and other types of outdoor firing techniques which I had learned in school. (Many moons ago). There isn’t anyone real close who works with reduction firing like I am now. I would love to hear you are still teaching and working.

[@GrannyGooseOnYouTube]

Travel Well, Ron.

[@jefflevitch5068]

great video.... I am about to teach a class on hand building to mostly latino kids and this was really inspirational because of the profound simplicity of the craft, and depth of the history. no need for any high tech glazing and firing. very "down to earth" process, I love it

[@patriciahuggins6577]

Such a thing of beauty! The knowledge that every part of that beautiful piece is made of the earth using tools from the very same earth and will last for thousands of years is nearly incomprehensible. Thank you for doing all that you do to see that this art form continues, the pleasure that you bring to so many is also not to be discounted.

[@maureenarmstrong9889]

Thank you to Ron Carlos for sharing his passion in this documentary and thanks to Steven Yazzie for the beautiful film. I was moved to tears by the end of this subtle, honest portrayal of the artist and his skills.

[@loril.mangold8160]

I bought some pottery at 4 corners from a woman who's last name is Yazzie, Beautiful pottery. Black n white design, and brought it back to Iowa

[@ninaalonso5669]

I am a beginner potter with native blood. I started pottery this January and felt very connected to it instantly. It felt as though my ancestors have been doing it for thousands of years before me and my body was remembering. I’d love to take a class from Ron and learn more about this tradition. Is he still teaching?

[@clemguitarechal]

Such a bautiful man and community. Very inspiring.

[@ravenbeadwork]

I would love to learn from him! Hes so passionate about his craft! I totally agree with him saying ppl have lost there way with nature. Such an inspiring teacher!

[@VTSifuSteve]

Great video. Ron, keep teaching and if even one of your students carries on the tradition it will survive another generation. I make and teach pottery with high school kids on the west side, out in Peoria. If I can get them off their cell phones for a few minutes a day to work with their hands and hearts that's a start.

[@johnsaikaly]

I know exactly what you’re talking about. I top pottery for 25 years during that time of teaching it I only had two students that went onto to become potters out of the hundreds that I taught it’s a dying art but it’s a very wonderful one.

[@WAGONJON]

Ron is very talented and this video is simply inspirational! As he said, most of the traditional values and traditions are almost gone for lack of interest. Thank you for this video! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[@luciacruz3628]

I am a home potter. I feel it is my passion. I make something every day. I would like to meet this person.

[@killawhatt8620]

Keep going Mr. Ron! 🌈💖🌈

[@TheDjorch]

Touching! Very beautiful video. Hello from Europe.

[@gabrielholloway3149]

Great video Ron. Keep up the good work.

[@ShelleeGraham]

Ron Carlos is a wonderful artist and makes beautiful pottery. Thank you so much for sharing his story or inspiration in the hopes that others younger in his culture will become interested in the craft. It is a commitment, but isn’t it worth it to continue this great tradition?

[@elesandradefatima9790]

Ficou muito lindo perfeito a queima parabéns sou do Brasil e amo cerâmica amo artesanatos e a primeira veis que vejo seu vídeo

[@winonabannon7953]

I love this video. Amazing process. I am in a class and our teacher found clay in her yard so she dug it up and brought it in, so we learned to make clay. It was a pretty green color. You know, some people think they are not interested in making pottery, and then they try it and fall in love with it. That is how I was. I actually became obsessed with learning all I could about it. My class was one day a week, but I went in 6 days a week. I call it my drug of choice. I also use rocks to smooth and shape. I am the only one in my class that does. Great video!

[@stauffap]

Clay is pretty much in every soil. You can take some earth put it in a bottle with watter and shake it. You'll always see several layers. Stones settle first. Then the sand, then the silt and then the clay. You'll always see clay in soil. It's just a matter of getting it out or of finding soil with enough clay in it to be able to use it without much processing.

[@lenacarrasco3838]

Beautiful!

[@chwoonie]

I was just talking about you tonight my friend. I miss you. Happy new year up to you in heaven. Miss you

[@clementramon8589]

Enjoyed your video. It's amazing how you brought out beauty out of the earth. It truly touched my soul. Glad I found your channel.

[@jimksa67]

super show! thnx I found a deep clay bank near the lakeshore where I was clearing a trial near the vulture hangout! gonna clean it and try it out ! This is deep stuff Bro because God created our father Adam out of clay then breathed spirit in him! shalom from canada

[@pamlame4925]

This video adds a whole new dimension to the idea I had of pottery. I had no clue how difficult it was just to get the clay for instance, and to know where to go and exactly what you need. There is so much to learn, this would be lifelong education. And I too feel sad that no one seems to be interested in doing the work it takes to learn the art in the original ways. Being and learning to use your creativity is to me, one of the more peaceful and satisfying and loving things you can do in this life. It's what make life worthwhile. Thank you for sharing this beautiful work, and I hope you find more students with genuine interest in your art.

[@sirfishslayer5100]

What an incredibly beautiful piece at the end! Yes, our world has become quite taken with cheap, imitation junk of things that were once hand crafted. They'd rather buy a piece of junk 10 times, than buy something crafted once. They think they are saving money. Sad, sad, sad.

[@josephwinkler4863]

Man what a beautiful piece that is some of the best looking Pottery that I’ve ever seen in my life especially not being thrown on the wheel

[@rachels.8673]

I’m one of the “students” in video.

[@xman870096]

@Rachel S. As your teacher says, 'it's a dying art and soon there may not be anyone to do it'.... Learn everything you can, YOU may be one of the only ones left to carry on this amazing art and tradition, it would be a great shame if it were lost forever....

[@caiomoreno4664]

Maaaaaan! Amazing work ! Beautiful video editing .....crazy geografic place! Greetings from BRASIL!

[@jeanettewaverly2590]

A beautiful documentary.

[@CeeJayKay]

That was a very lovely video. So I am curious, I noticed the little picture of the person on the pot was upside down. And I wondered if you could tell me why. My first thought was that it might’ve symbolized a baby in the womb, since babies are often upside down, being born head first normally.

[@jonathancordova9688]

Good job

[@lornaolynn105]

Such beautiful work 🙏🏻

[@Frankie_TimberandCrafts]

Thank you for this video, I'm learning the art of pottery as we speak.. let's keep this art going *blessings Ron*

[@minahrodriguez6774]

Thanks for sharing. Beautiful work. I would love to get into pottery. I’m Navajo tribe and I didn’t grow up knowing much about my culture but I love to doing native projects. I definitely want to look into making a pottery soon.

[@dravencastaneda]

Im navajo too! You should look up mud-native american pottery, i myself didnt know much about navajo pottery and that shed some light for me personally

[@bernadettelopicki7749]

merci pour cette vidéo si agréable à regarder et à écouter

[@shepneil]

Thank you for sharing your inspirational message and your beautiful art.

[@TacoLlamaYES]

This is so lovely ❤️ I've always been inspired by our people's artforms like this, bless him and others like him for keeping the art form alive with their passion

[@taniscreations6095]

I have a lot respect for u dear

[@TheLindbergbill]

I would be a potter and live a simple life but I have to work hard to take care of my family. I plan to take up pottery as a hobby. Your story is inspiring but a little sad. A simple life is all I wish for.

[@nilaandrews4026]

Very inspirational, glad to see how patient you are doing what you love.

[@dennystewart3238]

Please keep at it. This beautiful tradition needs to stay alive.

[@delissevargas4663]

So beautiful I learned a lot from you

[@joelsonnogueira5755]

Ficou muito lindo!

[@CeeJayKay]

We are enjoying your video. And I am presently in pursuit of a good paddle and anvil and gourd rib scraper. Did you make your tools or do you know where I can buy these tools? Your paddle is the only one I’ve seen that’s curved like that.

[@mikemarley2389]

There are some good videos on how to make clay from regular dirt.Any dirt will do.Some dirt has more clay some have less.But one only has to use settlement to get clay from dirt.

[@HeardMuseum]

This is very true! Thanks for watching!

[@seandees3028]

Beautiful

[@sleepycowboy18]

Good video, I'm quite sad at his comment, how people lost their feel towards nature :(

[@MoniqueAO888]

Great video!!! Native people should have access to THEIR land... ...usa should act like Australia did...

[@portermcdonald7412]

Love it! Thanks for sharing.

[@yahubamusic]

felicidades!!! exelente documental q. ayuda a despertar la conciencia hacia las artes q. estan en peligro de desaparecer. "solo el amor convierte en milagro al barro"

[@thomasbates9362]

Beautiful work, thanks!

[@tmfjones]

what a great video, thank you for this

[@tahinde]

I have followed you on Instagram for a while know and just found this video because the college being shut I started looking for alternatives to the stoneware clay and high temp kilns. Thank you for sharing.

[@lenacarrasco3838]

What's his Instagram?

[@Dovid2000]

Excellent documentary. Thanks for posting!

[@BOHUNTER]

Great video, art of the ancients, just like Flintknapping it’s slowly dying and it’s up to us to make sure we keep it going.

[@DaneStolthed]

Dude, you're awesome!

[@hilostateofmind]

I'll keep doing it cousin

[@everythingnifty7751]

What a neat video, I am just starting and learning a lot its so interesting

[@bigtruck182]

i loved it i love your work you live in such a beautiful place id love to get out of the cold an come see you and learn i do clay pipes always wanted to to do pots

[@OneKindWord]

Are your classes restricted to indigenous people? Are there fees?

[@delorismartin7449]

Beautiful pot thank you for sharing w us do you teach how to make your own paint to

[@mschambon]

Everywhere our native people suffer as a result of the colonization that occurred so long ago! Nonetheless it’s such a blessing to see folks continuing the traditions and carrying on the good work of the ancestors!

[@jandramendonca2835]

Muito lindo

[@scottcannon5341]

Can anyone tell me what the pot itself represents? The upside down male figure on a female? pot.

[@Blessings.429]

I was hoping to see you make a pot from start to finish 😩

[@hilostateofmind]

Man I'll learn from you! What I would give.

[@mirjanacuranovic3474]

Beautiful,thank you so much.how long do you burn your pottery?

[@joyceibenedict2168]

I think he said about 8 Hrs.

[@elizabethwatson71]

Can this clay be turned into china? Can bone ash be added? It is our duty to make sure our knowledge is shared with the world for future generations. Even if it means you write it out and all photos during the process. It will go into the Natural Archives. It can be saves for future generations.

[@jakecatoe9519]

This is od but the way I find clay is with my feet I walk and win I feel clay I stop and dig

[@VTSifuSteve]

Yeah, same here. I was in Costa Rica recently and slipped a bit coming up a trail. I looked down and had stepped in an exposed patch of rich , sienna-yellow colored clay. I stopped and tested it, making a coil and wrapping it around my finger., it was wonderfully plastic. People thought I was nuts. Maybe it takes a potter to understand a potter.

[@eyb0ss313]

@@VTSifuSteve take advantage of it, and tell no other.

[@oddacious0ne]

Digging dry clay is hard.

[@danettecross8608]

If people knew that they can low fire pottery and not have to 'go to' a kiln and rednt space in it, that they don't need to use glossy glazes etc., I think it would be more accessible. But there is a perception that they need a $$$$$ kiln, a $3000 wheel, etc., and it's just not true.

[@pawthead7902]

AND ITS NOT THAT WE GO WITH OTHER GROUPS ITS CAUSE ALL THE ELDERS WHO KNEW THE LANGUAGE AND TRADITION ARE GONE

[@oddacious0ne]

When POC sing to a christian god... the irony

[@blainehillis1921]

Sad to hear Mr. Carlos is very sick with cancer and is most likely on his way out of this world 🌊

[@Puukko79]

Beautiful