Maria Montoya Martinez, Master Potter

At age ten, MarÌa MontoyaMartÌnez was stricken with smallpox. Near death, she lay limply in hermother's arms, unable even to swallow the herbal teas offered her. All theattempts to revive her seemed to have failed. Trying one last remedy, her auntand mother filled the hearth with thick green cedar boughs and smoked the room,waving the fumes towards the sick little girl. MarÌa's motherdesperately prayed to Santo NiÒo, the children's saint, promising thatif MarÌa lived, she would send her on a pilgrimage to see him.MarÌa lived to make the pilgrimage and enjoy a long life. But she wasforever marked by this event.MarÌa's pilgrimage to the Santuario in Chimayo, New Mexico, becomes asymbol of her life. It is a journey towards humility, hard work, andperfection. She feels special since she was favored to live. And so sheconstantly strives to create the most worthy pots she can, always keeping inmind Old Grandmother's prowess with clay. The clay connects her to the earth,and the clay links her to her future husband, Juli n, who becomes apainter of her pots. Throughout the years, she is blessed and blesses her wholepueblo with money and, more importantly, love.MarÌa Montoya MartÌnez: Master Potter is thebiography of a very sick little girl who grew to be a strong and talentedwoman. She won many awards through the years for her pottery, so many that someof them were lost. This story beautifully depicts her exemplary life. Sherepresented her people and her art well.Elsie Karr Kreischer was a personal friend of MarÌa MontoyaMartÌnez. A writer based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she is also theauthor of The Navaho Magic of Hunting , which won the 1992National League of American Pen Women Children's Book Award.Roberta Sinnock is the owner of Seven Oaks Studio, a 20-year-old companythat specializes in book design and illustration. She earned her B.F.A. fromArizona State University with a specialty in graphic design and currentlyresides in Tucson, Arizona.Kreischer, Elsie K. is the author of 'Maria Montoya Martinez, Master Potter' with ISBN 9781565540989 and ISBN 1565540980.