WNMU Cultural Affairs New Mexico Artist Workshop
Recuerdos (remembering): Conversations with Johnny Ortiz-Concha
February 16-17, 2023
WNMU Department of Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with Jennifer Douglass, continues its NM Artist Workshop series Journey of the Storyteller-Notion of Place with Johnny Ortiz-Concha, a New Mexico-based ceramic artist and James Beard award winning chef who honors his Taos Pueblo/Spanish heritage through fine craft and the tradition of bringing people together through food. Launched in 2021, the workshop series invites New Mexican artists who use Socially Engaged Art (SEA) to collaborate with WNMU students, faculty and community members to create a unique project.
This event includes several activities at different locations:
Thursday, February 16
Artist talk with Q & A
7 pm
Light Hall
(This is free and open to the public, no tickets required)
Friday, February 17
Exhibit and food tasting: workshop visual piece will be on view, as well as pieces by Ortiz-Concha
Discussion and Q & A
6 pm
The Commons: Center for Food Security and Sustainability
(This is free and open to the public, no tickets required)
Workshop content: (RSVP required, space is limited)
The workshop is presented around a common theme, Recuerdos (remembering), with the nature of storytelling as a backdrop. In this workshop series, Ortiz-Concha will discuss his work and its connections to identity and place, present an idea, and collaborate with participants to develop an experience and public works piece that stimulates interdisciplinary collaboration.
“Recuerdos is an ongoing collection of remembering. A way to share a larger scope of what we do with the world without having to put stress on a physical practice or place. An opportunity to share not only the practices but the thoughts and intentions behind everything we do through various media, largely videos, photos, and word.” –Johnny Ortiz-Concha
The participatory element of the students and faculty working alongside the artist in the workshops is key, with the artwork created often holding equal or less importance to the collaborative act of creating them. Ortiz-Concha’s craft evolves from his relationship to his roots and the food that surrounds him. Participants will intimately experience Ortiz-Concha’s processes and insights, working alongside him in the development of how personal stories affect the outcome of unique craft.
Workshop itinerary
Thursday February 16:
Begin at 9 am: The Commons: Center for Food Security and Sustainability
- Meet and greet introductions
- Johnny and Maida Branch (a partner in the shed project) outline the workshop intentions and introduce project theme.
Food will focus on native corn, ash, and foraged wild plants.
- Kick off writing exercise
Break
- 1-4 pm – Foraging walk. (Location TBD)
Friday February 17
Begin at 9 am: The Commons: Center for Food Security and Sustainability
- Define parameters for visual piece to be created through storytelling
- Food prep for evening gathering (Online students participating will contribute to the writings and visuals)
Materials required:
- Journal or sketchbook and writing implements
- Photograph or story about your own ancestors
If you are interested in joining the workshop please email alexandra.tager@wnmu.edu.
More on Johnny-Ortiz Concha
Johnny Ortiz at Stone Barns Residency
Saveur Magazine, Johnny Ortiz-Concha
WNMU Cultural Affairs would like to thank The Commons Center for Food Security and Sustainability for the generous use of their space for this event.