Hi all. I’m Gus Kendrick. I recently went to Oaxaca, a state in Mexico, with my family. It was awesome. My favorite part was going to San Bartolo a village outside of Oaxaca City, to see people making black pottery. There was a man named Valente who showed us this art and answered all of our questions. The whole thing was very interesting. I’m anxious to go again.Valente made his pots with two plates as a potter wheel and rubbed a piece of quartz on the outside to make the pottery shiny. That’s what’s so special about this pottery. That it’s shiny. Valente’s mother discovered how to make it shiny.

Using some sticks, he made engravings in the side while he worked. There are two types of pots: one is the really black plates that is not good for cooking. The other is silvery black pottery that is not good for holding liquid. But both types are beautiful.

When I was there I bought a coyote from the black pottery and some mud to use as “mascara”—which means mask in Spanish. You use it on your face to make it soft and clean.  I haven’t done that yet. I get muddy enough playing outside.