Eric Mindling on thu 13 sep 01
SAN MARCOS WORKSHOP. Oaxaca, Mexico. Indigenous pottery from the hands of
masters.
This is an intensive, hands in the clay workshop that gives us the
very rare opportunity of being immerse us into the pottery making and life
of a small Zapotec village called San Marcos Tlapazola (see Ceramics
Monthly, Feb 2000). San Marcos is located in the high, central valley of
Oaxaca, Mexico. This valley was and is the cradle of Zapotec civilization.
We will be staying in this town for four and a half days following our
teachers through the process of creating a pot. Beginning by gathering and
preparing clay, then working our way through the unusual steps of this
wheelless, ancient, hand building technique. On our last day we will fire
our pots in the quick, surface bonfire used in this village. With a little
luck when the coals burn down we will have well formed, red slipped and
burnished pots with wonderful burnmarks.
As we are learning our way through the hand building methods of our
teachers, we will also ease into the rhythm and peaceful pace of this
traditional, pre-industrial village. In our time in San Marcos will become
familiar and comfortable with our hosts, working side by side with them,
sharing meals and stories.
The additional days will be spent visiting two other valley
pottery villages, San Bartolo Coyotepec, and Santa Maria Atzompa where we
will see two very different styles of pottery being produced. In Atzompa we
will visit with Dolores Porras who began the multi-colored glaze tradition
in this village in the 1980's. We will also visit with Angelica Vasquez,
one of Mexico's most talented and inspired potters. Much of her work is
centered around depicting in clay the old Oaxacan myths and legends told to
her by her grandmother. (Both of these women are featured in the Chronicle
Press book "Oaxacan Ceramics" In Coyotepec we will visit with Leopoldo
Barranco, the last seriously traditional potter in a village that has
adapted well to the 21st century marketplace.
Session 1- Dec 10-15, 2001
Session 2-March 18-23, 2002
Workshop cost is $595. This includes workshop fee, museum entrance, all
materials, hotel Sun.-Sat night and most meals. Max group size: eight
participants/two guides
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Rachel Werling, botanist
and/or
Eric Mindling, potterologist
www.manos-de-oaxaca.com
email: rayeric@rnet.com.mx
Apto Postal 1452
Oaxaca, Oax.
cp 68000
Mexico
phone 011 52 (954) 7-4534
fax 011 52 (952) 1-4186
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