Artisan's Day: Being an Artisan is...
On March 19th, we celebrated International Artisan's Day, a time to recognize the talent of artisans who preserve an ancestral legacy that is part of our cultural heritage in Mexico.
Therefore, under the concept "Being an Artisan is", Fundación Causa Azul A.C. shares the testimonials of Silvia Olea Flores and her grandfather Serapio Medrano López, Master Artisans in the Barro Betus technique, as well as the tradition of Barro Bandera and Barro Bruñido, with Masters Oswaldo Alvarado Jimón and his wife Flor Alejandra Robles Aréchiga.
Learn from the voices of those who protect the trade what it means to be an artisan and the significance of sharing these ancestral knowledges with future generations.
I feel proud of my teachers, Serapio Medrano and Paula Rodriguez, because they taught me this beautiful technique; my achievements are dedicated to them, because if it weren't for them, I wouldn't be surrounded by this fantastic surrealism.
— Silvia Olea Flores, maestra artesana en la técnica del Barro Betus.
I am proud to be an artisan, I am happy to have this heritage that my father, Candelario Medrano, left me.
— Serapio Medrano, master artisan in the Barro Betus technique.
For me, handicrafts are magic. I have struggled a lot to get ahead, I believe in what I do and I do it with much love. It is a pride to know that we are sharing the value of handicrafts so that it continues to prevail for a long time.
— Alejandra Robles Aréchiga, master artisan in the techniques of Barro Bruñido and Barro Bandera.
Being an artisan means sharing in each piece our legacy, the tradition that your ancestors leave you. It's about showing the folklore, my work, and the culture from where I come.
— Oswaldo Alvarado Jimón
