Dumpster Diving is an Art

While driving in Edmond I happened to pass a business on one of the side streets downtown. Outside the business, between streets, a dumpster was near the road and a large framed art print was leaning against the dumpster. Someone had put it out as trash, but maybe had a second thought before throwing it into the dumpster. My daughter said, "Stop, there's an American Indian painting!" So we stopped and she got out and brought it to the car. It appeared to have been in storage and was covered with dust and dirt, but not harmed at all. The colors and detail are much more beautiful than the photo can represent (above).

Once we brought the picture home, I was amazed that when the metal frame and glass were easily cleaned it revealed a lithograph of a limited edition poster, #42, signed by a Southwestern artist, Amado Maurilio Peña, Jr. I did some research on the picture and the artist and discovered that it was made in 1987 (which would explain the dust and cobwebs), and that the black pottery and black night sky had a special significance.

The painting, titled San Ildefonso, also happens to be a location near Santa Fe, New Mexico. The town is famous for its development of black-on-black pottery which was first started in San Ildefonso by Maria Martinez and her husband. Together they collected clay from the Black Mesa which is not far from the town and began to work the clay in black-on-black Pueblo designs.

The town of San Ildefonso was an agriculturally based economy until the late 20th century when Maria Martinez and her husband Julian rediscovered how to make the black-on-black pottery such as is seen in the artwork of the ancient Greeks. Since the development of the Martinez's pottery, the Pueblo area has become more of a tourist area with tourist shops and fine works of art.

The artist, Amado Maurilio Peña, Jr., works from inspiration by places such as San Ildefonso as a tribute to the Native Americans and their environment, from which he is also a descendant. I was so happy to be able to reclaim this treasure and give it a place of honor in our home.

An example of the pottery in the lithograph:

The Black Mesa:



Amado Maurilio Peña, Jr.