October 2018
In the second edition of the RVH Encuentro in Oaxaca we enjoyed three days of exploration, surprises and hard work.
After crossing hills and a small river, we had the chance to meet and speak with a group of lovely potters in the home of Goya Cruz in Tonaltepec. They told us of the impact of the sales they had through Colectivo 1050° (still not conformed as a co-op) in their lives. They also talked abou how surprising it was for them to attend the “Barro y Fuego” (Clay and Fire) exhibition at the Franz Mayer Museum.
Again, we enjoyed the magic of Francisca Ocampo, master artisan of Santa María Atzompa, who crafts comales with an amazingly skilled hand. We discussed the Comunidad de Alfarera de Aprendizaje (Potter’s Learning Community) with her and other artisans.
Members of RVH were able to see with their own eyes what we have built together, and we were able to debate over which road to follow in the future.
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank the 11 attending members for their enthusiasm. We applaud their efforts to immerse themselves, seek understanding, and find new paths for the project.
This Encuentro allowed us to recognize that we can achieve a powerful future for the potter’s tradition with the support of many.