The Mata Ortiz Pottery Phenomenon follows ceramics enthusiast and museum founder David Armstrong into the high plains of Chihuahua, Mexico. His destination: the legendary village of Mata Ortiz, home of over 400 ceramic artists working below the snow-capped mountains that provide a source of clay and minerals for glazes. The same mountains where --as a small boy-- Renaissance man Juan Quezada discovered pottery shards from the Casas Grandes Indians and was inspired to reinvent their prehistoric techniques.

This film covers the history, the economic challenges, and the artistic innovations of the Mata Ortiz ceramic community while providing a close look at clay gathering, pottery construction, painting and firing.

Footage and interviews of the following are included:

Juan Quezada, Spencer MacCallum, Walter Parks, Nicolas Quezada, Diego and Carla Valles, Octavio Tavo Silveira, Gerado Tena, Humberto and Veronica Ponce, Macario Ortiz, Martin Cota, Laura Bugarini, Hector Gallegos, Jr., Hector Gallegos, Sr., Graciela Martinez, among others.