Joe Molinaro
2006 Roark Lecture Recipient
Department of Art & Design

ABSTRACT

"Preserving Culture: Evolving Traditions and Outside Influences Facing the Ecuadorian Amazon"
by Joseph H. Molinaro, Department of Art & Design

The art objects produced in the upper Amazon basin region of Ecuador can be used to define and differentiate the various indigenous groups inhabiting the rainforest. Objects such as pottery, baskets, feathered necklaces, blowguns, etc. are all part of the cultural fiber that help describe both their daily activities and their artwork by showing how each are inter-related. Using local materials found exclusively in the jungle canopy, the people of the rainforest continue using these resources as a way to serve their daily needs while remaining connected to a long-standing artistic tradition. However, with the advancement of outside influences (i.e., oil exploration, wood/lumber business, missionaries, etc.) and the subsequent influx of new items such as metal and plastic, many of the age old craft traditions, such as potterymaking, which once served important roles within typical jungle life, are in jeopardy of extinction. While traditional reasons for their production and use are being threatened, new venues are pursued as a way to both preserve indigenous craft traditions and continue providing a place for items such as pottery within a particular group.

In a rich visual presentation using either PowerPoint or color slide transparencies, I will present for a general audience the people and place of the Ecuadorian Amazon and the many challenges they face. By presenting the eight indigenous groups of the jungle region, a careful examination of these objects, in particular their pottery making, will help illustrate life in the rainforest and the interconnectedness the Indians share with their environment. Creating a sense of place will be important in my presentation as a way to help the viewer better understand the difficult nature of carrying out daily life in such a remote corner of the world. Showcasing the working processes of the women potters and how they obtain local clay materials, paint the intricate designs on the forms, as well as how these objects serve in both utilitarian purpose and mythical referencing, will allow the viewer to better grasp the complexity of their work and the important role it plays in defining a particular cultural ethos. The painted patterns on their pottery (produced with local clay stains and painted with brushes made of human hair) will help provide the audience with a better understanding of the role nature plays in their art, life and culture. Additionally, a careful examination of the modern threats to their lives and artistic applications on a daily level will be explored and discussed.

As a practicing ceramist myself and one who has been involved for over 20 years in the study of pottery making of indigenous groups throughout Latin America, this presentation is a continuation of this investigation and an opportunity to share my discoveries and insights with a larger audience. Actual artifacts will also be made available for a more up-close examination after the lecture as a way to provide the audience with a practical sense of the objects themselves. It is my goal to present my research in a way that engages the viewer through visual stimulation while challenging what could be predictable notions toward the people and life of the Amazon.