Artisans of Mexico, by Florence Leyret

Artisans of Mexico / Artesanos, Michoacan, Mexico, by Florence Leyret  

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La poderosa Juana Gomez y uno de sus jaguares majestuosos, Amatenango del Valle, Chiapas, Mexico

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Sara Marquez Gonzalez, artesana en San Jeronimo Purenchecuaro, Michoacan, Mexico

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Juana Alonso and her daughter Prudencia firing Cocuchas. Cocuchas are large potteries made of volcanic clay in the Purepecha village of Cocucho.

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Juana Arredondo Hermenegildo, en Santa Fe de la Laguna. Ella es una de las ultimas dedicada en la fabricación de mascaras de barro, un arte heredado de su mama Rosalía y de su abuela Marciana.

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So thankful! I got a very nice article about my work:

http://revesonline.com/2017/08/10/florence-leyret-la-cronista-visual-de-la-region-purepecha/

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Fantastic news for Antonio: he has been selected to  be part of the artisans invited in Madrid by the Loewe Foundation! 

In 2016, the LOEWE FOUNDATION launched the international annual LOEWE Craft Prize to showcase and celebrate newness, excellence and artistic merit in modern craftsmanship.

Antonio Cornelio Rendon (Taller Panikua, Tzintzuntzan, Michoacan, Mexico)

Calle Tariacuri , Tzintzuntzan, Michoacan, Mexico. Cel 443 158 4724 (Photography © Florence Leyret)

More on my website: www.florenceleyret.com

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Pablo Contreras, ceramist in Patamban, Michoacan, Mexico.

 Contact:Pablo Contreras Ruiz, Ignacio Zaragoza #21, Patamban, Michoacan, Mexico

Visit my website: www.florenceleyret.com

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Here in her studio, Elvia Silva Bartolo, Zipiajo (Michoacan, Mexico).  Elvia is the leader of 2 groups, one working on embroidered textile (as seen on the image) and one working  with clay, creating mainly pots and animal figures. Pottery is an activity that has been maintained in Zipiajo since pre-Hispanic times, with few changes. The pieces of  clay are burned in open air (low temperature). 

www.florenceleyret.com

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Con Elvia Silva Bartolo y la comunidad de Zipiajo, Michoacan. Elvia es el leader de 2 colectivos, uno de trabajo de textil bordado y uno del trabajo de alfareria, principalmente ollas, cómales y figuras de animales. Aparte de la belleza del trabajo y de la gente cariñosa, es muy impresionante ver un espiritú colectivo tan fuerte, profundo, y respectuoso. La alfarería es una actividad que se mantiene desde la época prehispánica, con pocos cambios. Las piezas de barro rojo son quemadas a cielo abierto (baja temperatura). Es aquí donde le dan un terminado de color con la misma quema.

www.florenceleyret.com

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In Antonio Parra’s workshop in Santa Clara del Cobre (Michoacan, Mexico), every step of the process of transforming the raw copper material to a finished piece (”cazos”) is done entirely by hand. Each "cazo” is made  through a very laborious process, taking several weeks of daily work, repeatedly heating and hammering the copper, slowly thinning it and transforming it into the desired shape.

The most impressive part to my eyes, apart of the strength and muscular effort is the coordination of the hammering, each of the 4 men hitting the piece on his turn, following a very precise rhythm...Team work at its best!

www.florenceleyret.com

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Oscar Daniel Chavez, from #Patzcuaro, (Michoacan, Mexico), and his wonderful whimsical papier maché creatures (”Alebrijes”). Contact him at macheart@outlook, or on his facebook page.

Alebrijes  are brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures of fantastical creatures. The first alebrijes, along with use of the term, originated with Pedro Linares. In the 1930s, Linares fell very ill and while he was in bed, unconscious, Linares dreamt of trees, animals, rocks, clouds that suddenly turned into something strange, some kind of unknown animals… a donkey with butterfly wings, a rooster with bull horns, a lion with an eagle head, all of them shouting one word, “Alebrijes”. Upon recovery, he began recreating the creatures he saw in cardboard and papier-mâché and called them Alebrijes. (Wikipedia).

www.florenceleyret.com

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Luis Manuel Morales Gamez, master potter in Tzintzuntzan. Some of Manuel's powerfull high-fired ceramics represent pre-hispanic symbols, some of the ones one can see in the lake Patzcuaro area. Find him in his workshop discretely nestled in the north corner of the church atrium; contact him on his Facebook page, or cellphone 4433948167 before going.

www.florenceleyret.com

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Manuel Valencia, mask maker, Sevina, Michoacan, Mexico./ Manuel Valencia, mascarero, Sevina, Michoacan, Mexico

Contacto (cellular): 452 526 6881

www.florenceleyret.com

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Las flores, como una expresión fundamental de la naturaleza, estuvieron presentes en multitud de contextos en el México antiguo, y prevalecen hoy en gran parte en las celebraciones de las comunidades indígenas de la Meseta Purépecha (Michoacan). Las flores, en una variedad de materiales y medios no son sólo de uso decorativo, sino también parte de un enfoque basado en el respeto a los dioses, que se manifiestan en los elementos de la naturaleza y cuyo simbolismo, al menos en mis ojos, se refiere a un paraíso . Por supuesto, el arte popular mexicano ha integrado flores en todos tipos de soportes. Aquí estamos con Gabriel Anita, en la casa-taller familiar  (“Taller de bateas Anita”) donde todas las generaciones de la familia se dedican en la elaboración de únicas “Bateas"de pino pintadas a mano y otros objetos decorativos.

The flowers, as a fundamental expression of nature, were present in many contexts in ancient Mexico, and prevail today largely in the celebrations of the indigenous communities of the Purépecha Plateau (Michoacan). The flowers, in a variety of materials and medias are not only decorative , but also part of a system based on the respect for the gods, manifested in the elements of nature, and their  symbolism, at least in my eyes, may refer to Paradise. 

Of course, the Mexican folk art has integrated flowers in all types of medias. Here is Gabriel Anita, in the  home-workshop ("Taller de bateas Anita ”) where all family members are engaged in developing unique hand-painted pine wood “bateas”and other decorative objects.

Taller de Bateas ANITA Antonio Anita Mejia, Av. LAzaro cardenas Norte 74, Barrio El Calvario, 58420 Quiroga, Michoacan, Mexico. Tel (01) [phone] Photography @Florence Leyret 

www.florenceleyret.com

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El arte de los rebozos de la Maestra Cecilia Bautista Caballero. Ahuiran, Michoacan, Mexico…

Photoshoot con Cecilia Bautista Caballero de la comunidad de Ahuiran, Gran Maestra, pionera, artista. Cecilia ha sido la primera tejedora en agregar plumas naturales a los flecos, hace 22 años, cuando se enteró de la tradicion de los trabajos con plumas de México,  llamada "plumaría". La plumaria fue una importante técnica artística y decorativa en los períodos prehispánicos.

Photoshoot with Cecilia Bautista Caballero, from Ahuiran , Grand Master  and pioneering artist. Cecilia was the first weaver to add natural feathers fringes, 22 years ago, when she learned of the Mexican feather work, also called "plumaría", which was an important artistic and decorative technique in the pre-Hispanic period.

Her address is: 5 de mayo #165, Ahuiran, Municipio de Paracho. Michoacan, Mexico

Cellphone number for leaving text messages:452 105 0415. 

Photography @ Florence Leyret 

www.florenceleyret.com

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Pescados y flores, inspiración de la vida cotidiana y sagrada...Beauty everywhere!

Artesania Fernando Arroyo y familia

Calle Mariano Matamoros # 400, Capula, Michoacan, Mexico

cell: 443 254 7278

Photography @ Florence Leyret

www.florenceleyret.com

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Las reinas Purepechas: 

Elvira Sanabria Sossa, tejedora (weaver) en Angahuan, Michoacan, Mexico 

Contacto: 452 129 4669 (Mexico)

Photography © Florence Leyret Jeune

www.florenceleyret.com