It is to be and know that you are a child of the earth. Clay is the flesh of the Earth Mother. Mothers, actual Pueblo women, are very close to that flesh, Rina feels. P ottery is an especially feminine activity. There is a conspicuous element of play involved in making pots, and it really comes through when you watch or are part of the whole process.
Children come in, grab a piece of clay and start to play with it.
People are cooking their beans while taking care of their kids and talking to neighbors. A nd out of that activity comes something from a deeper place in your being. It is important to keep family traditions alive, and to retain the family approach and spiritual connections she describes for clay-work itself. You can also visit the on-line Heard Museum, see some exhibitions of other kinds of Native art, and read about some of their programs and shows, too. Indeed, they seem particularly good for older students who have reading problems and need reading books that are appealing and motivating.