“Scott Petersen’s documentary winningly tells the tale of MacCallum’s unlikely odyssey as an arts promoter, and the film also provides a fascinating portrait of Quezada’s equally unlikely rise to prominence. The footage capturing the creation of Quezada’s painstakingly precise designs is wonderful, and MacCallum and Quezada’s accounts are compelling. The Renaissance of Mata Ortiz offers a fascinating look at contemporary Mexican art and culture.”
Video
Librarian
Read the Los Angeles Times
article.....
........................................
Read the Flagstaff Live
article...........
Read the Michigan Today
interview...........
Read the Phoenix New Times
article...........
Read the Austin American-Statesman
review
Read
the El Observador article..(in Spanish)
... (in English via Google
Translate)
“The
Renaissance of Mata Ortiz is a fascinating
film that tells the tale of how two very different
individuals came together and started an artistic movement
that saved an entire community.
Recommended.”
EMRO
(Educational Media Reviews Online)
“Scott
Petersen’s
The Renaissance of Mata Ortiz captures the
essence of the Mata Ortiz ceramic art phenomenon by telling
the story from its origins to the present with thoughtful
commentary and beautiful
photography.”
Walter Parks
Author
“The Miracle of Mata
Ortiz”
“From
a dusty desert village in northern Chihuahua comes a story
that you just can't make up. Director Scott Petersen's
powerful storytelling in
The Renaissance of Mata Ortiz makes this
cross-cultural documentary a hidden gem that goes beyond
the subject of Mexican pottery.”
Nancy Flores
Austin American-Statesman
“The
Renaissance of Mata Ortiz introduced
me to the finest art and people of Mata Ortiz. This
documentary assures me of critical issues I often think
about as a ceramic artist. Regardless of where you live, we
the people who work in clay share common passion, and
desire to touch and manipulate clay to create things of
beauty. The quality of potteries shown in this film is no
doubt the world class. The village of Mata Ortiz is
definitely in my list of ‘must visit’ in the near
future. I am certain
this documentary will excite and inspire my students at
Minnesota State University. The film will be the
'fuel for the creativity' for beginning and advanced
level student artists as well as professionals in the
field.”
Mika Negishi
Laidlaw
Ceramic Artist
Assoc. Professor of Art-Ceramics
Minnesota State University-Mankato
“Petersen
subtly tempers the romance of narrative and scenery with a
quiet question about economic progress, contemporary ideals
and the importance of modern savvy; leaving the audience
amazed at the miracle of a vision realized, but circumspect
of rapid transition.”
Jill
Foote-Hutton
Gallery Coordinator
Red Lodge Clay Center
Red Lodge, Montana
“Scott
Petersen’s new film brings a quirky charm and resonance to
the growing field of Mata Ortiz commentary and
documentation. As such, Petersen’s film is a must see for
anyone interested in the story of Mata Ortiz and/or
traditional approaches to pottery. Well-paced, the movie
never drags and provides a lot meat for a short entrée.”
Marko Fields
Resident Artist
Concordia University
St. Paul, Minnesota
"A
compelling account of the accidental intersection of a
cultural heritage and an entrepreneurial perseverance that
brought a better life to a downtrodden community and
considerable enjoyment to the larger public. The DVD
would be of interest to business school students and
faculty members as well as to social scientists, and a
worthwhile addition to library
collections."
Allen Sanderson
University of Chicago
Department of Economics
“remarkable,
lively and fascinating”
Michigan Today
