mica, a mineral which is used to create mesa windows. The complex is also fire resistant, unlike traditional pueblos, and is painted in light pinks and purples to match the landscape surrounding it. Traditional Acoma artwork is exhibited and demonstrated at the center, including ceramic chimneys crafted on the rooftop. Arts and crafts also bring income. Acoma Pueblo is open to the public by guided tour from March until October, though June and July have periods of closure for cultural activities. Photography of the Pueblo and surrounding land is restricted. Tours and camera permits are purchased at the Sky City Cultural Center. While photography is allowed with permit, video recordings, drawings, and sketching are prohibited. All photography is forbidden within the church. The Acoma Pueblo also has a casino and hotel - the Sky City Casino Hotel. The casino and hotel are alcohol-free and are maintained by the Acoma Business Enterprise, which oversees most Acoma businesses. Arts At Acoma, pottery remains one of the most notable artforms. Men create weavings and silver jewelry, as well. Pottery Acoma pottery dates back more than 1,000 years. Dense local clay, dug up at a nearby site, is essential to Acoma pottery. The clay is dried and strengthened by the addition of pulverized pottery shards. The pieces then are shaped, painted, and fired. Geometric patterns, thunderbirds, and rainbows are traditional designs, which are applied with the spike of a yucca. A potter lightly strikes the side of the pot upon completion and holds it to his or her ear; if the pot does not ring, it will crack during firing. If this is found, the piece is destroyed and ground into shards for future use. Communities Acomita Anzac McCartys Sky Line Old Sky Line Notable people Loren Aragon, fashion designer Marie Chino, traditional pottery artist Vera Chino, traditional pottery artist Lucy Lewis, traditional pottery artist Georgene Louis, attorney and member of the New Mexico House of Representatives Simon J. Ortiz, poet, author, and educator Anton Docher, "The Padre of Isleta", French priest Rachel Concho, traditional pottery artist known for seed pots Gallery See also San Estevan Del Rey Mission Church Acoma Indian Reservation Solomon Bibo Enchanted Mesa National Register of Historic Places listings in Cibola County, New Mexico List of National Historic Landmarks in New Mexico List of Indian reservations in the United States List of Native American peoples in the United States List