We document the burning process of the last traditional pottery master from Ixtlán de Juárez, Oaxaca.
In April 2022, we enthusiastically received the call from Rodolfo Pérez from Ixtlán de Juárez warning us about the upcoming burning of Doña Amelia, a 95-year-old potter and the last link in the long chain of potters from that town. "He says it will be the last," Rodolfo explained to us.
With that burning Amelia was retiring from her long and prolific career. To that end point was added a question mark to the trade that in other times enjoyed recognition in the region and gave livelihood to hundreds or thousands of women. A trade thanks to which innumerable generations were fed and which earned for Ixtlan the nickname of "the singers”, but who now saw her last guardian drop her weapons, with no successors in sight.
Without thinking twice we gathered the film crew and headed to Amelia's house. Filming the burning of Amelia was one of the steps that were pending to complete the recording of the Ixtlán technique that began months before as part of our documentary project. Living TreasuresSo this was an occasion that was both ideal and dramatic.
Doña Amelia gave us lessons in strength, respect and dignity. He was in charge throughout the entire burning, moving pieces, giving instructions, supervising and explaining the subtleties of that moment which, to the uninitiated, seems like just one big bonfire, but requires vast knowledge to carry out correctly. Months before, body aches and fatigue had made the teacher decide not to make any more pieces. But there was a block of clay already prepared that could not, should not, be wasted, so she made an extra effort to mold that precious clay and turn it into pieces that later had to be burned.
We share some images of the process that we were able to witness.
