Tony mindling on sat 14 sep 02
You have muddy hands, dusty feet, lungs filled with wood smoke, your =
back
aches from bending over, your arms are tired from polishing with a =
little
stone, the sun has burned your nose, everyone around you is speaking a
language you can't understand and when it is all over you wish it =
wouldn't end.=20
That is the Oaxacan Clay workshop, which puts you in rural Oaxaca
with indigenous potters for 9 days of intensive learning and eye-opening
into the traditions and ways of Pre-Colombian Mexico. And it isn't just
about clay, it is about people and villages, a slow way of living, good
food, hospitality and forgetting about the northern side of the border =
in a
serious way for a nice, long moment. Plus the beds are comfortable.=20
For more information drop me a line- rayeric@RNET.com.mx, or take a
sneak preview at www.manos-de-oaxaca.com.=20
Session 1- Feb 2-10, 2003
Session 2-March 16-24,2003
Workshop cost is $1,150 with 7-8 participants. Cost is $1,380 with 5-6
participants.=20
This price includes workshop fee, museum entrance, all materials, hotel
Sun.-Mon night and most meals, Oaxacan transport in private van, maximum
group size of eight with two guides.
Short Course-December 15-21, 2002
Workshop cost is $890 with 7-8 participants. Cost is $1,085 with 5-6
participants.=20
Patty Alander on tue 24 sep 02
Eric is doing a good job of describing this workshop, but it's almost
impossible to capture the magic of it with words. You are totally
immersed in a culture that is so different from what you're used to - a
real step back in time. Macrina and Alberta are charming, fun, and very
experienced potters. Our days with them were filled with laughter -
Macrina especially loves a good joke. None of us spoke Spanish or
Zapotec, but with the help of Eric and his assistant, Carlos, it didn't
matter a bit. Eric and Carlos are great at what they do - I suppose I
should call them tour guides, but it felt more like hanging around with
friends. I was a bit nervous doing a "group" vacation with a bunch of
strangers, but Eric's combination of attention to detail and his casual
nature make it work. And Carlos's knowledge of the local folklore added
another level of pleasure to the trip.
It doesn't matter how experienced you are, anyone will fit in on this
trip. I've been a potter for 15 years and my pots look no different
than my husband's and he'd never touched clay before. My hands didn't
even feel like my own on the first day. Different clay, old corncobs and
pieces of gourd for scraping and shaping, and their "wheel" - a
depression in a rock, with a bit of sand to facilitate turning. But
Eric is right, it doesn't matter how well you handle the clay, Macrina
and Alberta will always make sure your pots turn out right.
And the food! We ate very well, in fact I went into withdrawal after
coming home and had to dig up some authentic recipes to satisfy my
cravings. I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't figured out
how to make Oaxacan peanuts - be careful they are addictive!
We are well traveled and always take the back roads to get a better feel
for the place we are visiting, but this trip was something special. You
really become a part of the everyday life. I had trouble fitting back
into my world when we got back home - I felt all squeezed in even though
I loved my life before I left for Mexico. For days after we returned
I'd wake up hoping to hear donkeys braying and marching bands playing at
any time for any occasion. It was a wonderful experience that I'd
recommend to anyone with a sense of adventure.
Patty
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