CANADIANS IN MEXICO

Intercultural exchanges awoken the mind
and open the senses to a world of sights,
sounds and tastes previously nol expen:
enced, With these things in mind, J flew
out of Canada to join nine other Canadian
ceramists and ten Mexican ceramists tn
Puchla, Mexico, for a residency and
intercultural exchange. The unique fea
ture of this particular residency was place.
The twenty ceramists were invited to work
alongside the Unarte Talavera artisans, to
collaborate with the factory workers and
experience a tradition that spans nearly
five centuries.

There are several theories as to the ongin
of the name Talavera. It ts part of history
that Puebla became the centre for Talavera
tiles and pottery, and that its influence 15
seen in the decorative pottery and tiles
throughout Mextoo. The cobalt decoration
found on much of this work would have to
be considered one of the outstanding fea-
tures brought to Puebla, although the use
of the blue in Talaveraware is deeper and
heavier, almost a relicf or texture on the
surface.

Talavera pottery, no matter its influenees,
is functional and beautiful. In an article in
the Artes de Mexico, Octavio Paz says,
“The handmade ohpect satisfies a need mo
less imperative than hunger and thirst: the
need to take delight in the things we sec
and touch, whatever their everyday uses.”
Talavera pottery prowdly displayed in my
dining reom satisfies that need and proves
the point without a doubt, [t also takes me
back to five weeks in Pucbla that I'm sure
will have an impact on me for a lifetime.

The Banff Center and FONCA (Fondo
Nacional para la Cultura y las Aries) or:
ganized the residency in Mexico City. Our
introduction to one another consisted of a
very short slide presentation, It became
immediately apparent that the artists in-
volved could be categorized as contempo-
rary; individual works varied a& much as
the indivicuals invelved.

The challenge for all of ws was to infuse
aspects of a 400 year old tradition into our
unique pieces. An introductory tour of the
factory processes proved that the indi-
vidual arpisans in this large, yet personable
environment were highly trained and proud
of the quality and great expertise they

February 2001

by Shirley Ramer

exhibited, We set up our studio spaces in
an old abandoned butlding adjoining the
faciory and two of the factory workers,
Antonio and Fernando, were sequestered
to be at our beck and call. We couldn't
havedone it without them; especially them,
as well as countless others who worked
with ws to create work that reflected cour
individual self-expression but strongly
reflected the influences around us.

Clay was brought in, tables set up, and we
began the journey, Energy levels were
high and for me there was a real joy in
working alongside nineteen artists whic
proved to be dedicated, hardworking, tal-
ented and fun loving. Frustrations with
limitations of clay and the language bar-
ner were overshadowed by acomradeship
and growing affection for one another,
Bonds with the factory workers were
strengthened, as they became more inte.
gral in the final outcome of the experience.

An interesting part of the experience was
the difficulty I found in accepting many of
the collaborative aspects of the program,
Would my work really be mine if another
artist puts the marks on its surface? Don't
we all aspire to reach a point where we
conceive of the ideas and others do the
labour? To me the joy has always been in
the tactile and sensual qualities of the
material and the spontancous way in which
Lapproach it. | have net resolved the ques-
viens but do know that the help I received
from the Talavera artisans was a huge part
of any successes | achieved.

This experience was made especially
unique in that it took place in a country
with a fascinating history and landscape.
The festival we attended in Tlaxcala with
the brightly colored costumes and folk
dancing: the convent in Hucjotzi ngo with
the shadows of sensitive and ethereal paint-
ings on the walls; and the passageways
through the underground pyramid in
Chalula, all blend (0 remind me of the
mystery, beauty and history of Mexico,
The children with their beautiful skin and
deep, dark eyes; the cuisine that is like no
other, with tastes and smells that delight
the palate; and a feeling of a more simple
and somehow more manageable lifestyle,
are some: of the memories | have. Mexico
and iis people have warmed their way into
my heart. | plan to return again and again,
but] know that this unique experience, in
this amazing country, will be difficult to
equal and can never be repeated.

Artists participating in this exchange included,
from Canada: Ed Bamiling, Katrina Chaytor,
Charley Farrero, Les Manning, Sally Michener,
Frederike Rahn, Shirley Kimer, Reheoca
Robbins, Linda Stanier, and Jet! Stewart; and
from Mexico: Javier del Cueto, Roman Garza,
Rosaria Guillermo, Carmen Lang, Adriano
Marpain, Rosa Maria de Poo, Maribel Patela,
Juan Sandoval, Katrin Schikora. and Adan

Paredes Vera.

A eee oc
This ts the second Fe eae
article abou! pottery experiences in Mexice by
Shirtey, Works in Clary, ed Deer, AB.

Market in Tlazeala

Potters Guild of British Columbia 3