Hopi/Tewa potters return to Prescott museum for live demos, storytelling

Award-winning Hopi/Tewa potters Dot Ami and Emerson Ami will return to the Museum of Indigenous People in Prescott, Arizona on April 10–11, 2026, for a weekend of live pottery demonstrations, storytelling, and cultural education.

The free, family-friendly event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day and offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience the traditional techniques of Hopi and Tewa pottery firsthand. The artists will demonstrate hand-coiling methods, surface treatments, and firing processes, including a live outdoor firing.

Organizers say the event highlights not only the craftsmanship behind each piece but also the cultural significance embedded in the practice. The Amis, known for their dedication to preserving ancestral knowledge, will share personal insights from decades of work, emphasizing the role of pottery in sustaining cultural identity and resilience.

Attendees can expect discussions on the history of Hopi/Tewa pottery, the revival of traditional methods, and the importance of passing these techniques to future generations. The event is designed to appeal to a wide audience, including collectors, students of Native arts, homeschool families, and those curious about Indigenous traditions.

In addition to demonstrations, participants may have the chance to create and take home their own pottery pieces the same day.

Museum officials describe the weekend as an immersive cultural experience, where clay becomes a medium for storytelling, connecting lineage, land, and language through art.

Learn more at https://www.museumofindigenouspeople.org/contact.