In the late summer of 2003, I took the opportunity to enroll in a pottery workshop taught by Juan Quezada at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center near Aspen, Colorado. In that inspiring setting, I learned a great deal from Juan, not only about pot making, but about his life and his world view. Several months later we continued the conversation in Mata Ortiz where I spoke with him about the possibility of this book.

"What would you like to see in a book about Mata Ortiz?" I asked. Juan's answer was simple. "The truth," he said.