How do I describe Acoma Pueblo? ( pronounced AK oma ) I had never even heard of it until a month ago when R & I attended the Crownpoint Rug Auction. In addition to the great rugs that were brought to the sale, there were several vendors who set up tables in the hallway of the elementary school where the sale is held. These tables were filled with various items but the pottery caught my eye. Various sizes, various shapes, but all hand decorated and absolutely amazing. We spent many pleasurable minutes at each tables while the artists described their pots and designs on them for each brush stroke ( or stroke of the yucca leaf) has a meaning. How to decide which one to purchase. In talking to each artist we discovered that each one was from Acoma. We decided on two pots which came from a couple named G & Y. In talking to them, they told me that they live at Acoma Pueblo and showed me pictures of the mesa. Acoma Pueblo lies atop a 400 ft high sandstone mesa in a valley about 25 miles south of I-40 in New Mexico.
G & Y related to me that there is no electricity and running water up on the mesa. There are two natural cisterns that store rain water, otherwise it must be hauled up from the valley floor. This mesa has been occupied since the 1500's but the only access until 1950's was a foot trail. A movie company wanted to make a movie so part of the deal included construction of a road. Another movie in the 60's paved the road.
There are about 100 homes on top of the mesa, but only 20 or so are occupied in the winter, no doubt because of the cold harsh wind that whips through in winter and spring. The day we went up to the mesa, the temperature was about 35, and the wind was blowing about 25 making it brutally cold. The homes are mostly built of stone, adobe, and mortar with walls a foot thick so they are well insulated, but with heating done only by wood it takes a special person to live there. And these folks are artists. Their pots show it.
We arrived at the visitor center in time to register for the 3:oo o'clock tour, the last one of the day. We rode with our young female guide up the road to the summit in a small bus-type vehicle. For about an hour she led us around the village, telling us about the history of the
Acoma people and the village we were visiting. Every so often we would come to a home that had a table outside with pottery sitting on it. The artist, would come out as we walked up and would tell us about his or her wares. So many beautiful items, so little money. How does one decide? I hope you get the opportunity to be exposed to this place. If you get the chance, to visit Acoma Pueblo.
Part of the tour price was a permit allowing me to take pictures of the pueblo. However, I do not feel comfortable putting them on the blog. I will attach a couple pics of the area and you can click on the link. It includes a picture of the pueblo sitting up on the mesa. It is an awesome valley.
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