Opening Reception: Virgil Ortiz: Revolt 1680/2180 Daybreak of the Resistance

Virgil Ortiz: Revolt 1680/2180 Daybreak of the Resistance
opening reception: Saturday, August 10, 5-7 pm
on view: August 10–October 27, 2024

On August 10, the 344th anniversary of the Pueblo Revolt, Virgil Ortiz’s Daybreak of the Resistance will open at [CONTAINER] in Oga Po’geh, or Santa Fe as it is known today. Here, Po’Pay and his Pueblo allies, together with the Recon Watchmen, Runners, Gliders, and the Blind Archers Army, converge to defeat the destructive Castilian forces once and for all. Ortiz and collaborative artists Morgan Barnard, Jonathan Sanchez, William T. Carson, Patrick Lachman, and Alex Sokol will present the Daybreak storyline in an immersive art experience featuring never-before-seen work in clay, sculptures, paintings, and SFX projection mapping. The Resistance is coming, and it arrives at Daybreak!

Ortiz is a polymath, expanding his artistic vision beyond the confines of pottery. He skillfully weaves design, digital media, video, and film into his ever-expanding, boundless practice, creating a rich, multi-sensory experience that offers an insightful perspective into the Puebloan history and culture. From a young age, Ortiz’s remarkable skills caught the attention of a Cochiti elder, who asked him to carry on the tradition of sharing the stories of the Pueblo Revolt with the younger generation. This was to ensure that the significant historical events and the unique artistic techniques, materials, and traditions of the Cochiti Pueblo are never forgotten. Ortiz is driven by this calling to honor and preserve the past, which is evident in his career and inspirational work. Through his art and activism, Ortiz is dedicated to keeping the tradition of the Cochiti Pueblo and the invaluable knowledge of his ancestors alive. He is one of the few individuals who continue to uphold the tradition of traditional pottery.

Image: Virgil Ortiz, Po’pay, 2024, high fire clay and glazes with hand painting, 42 x 37 x 27 in.