Octubre 2019
The feminine force of RVH made its appearance in Oaxaca during the autumn of 2019. During three intense days we shared the joys and efforts of the project, in a journey marked by recognition, friendship, and mutual gratitude.
This gathering began with a dinner and an intimate conversation with the 26 participating artisans from the Potter’s Learning Community. Together, we inaugurated the exhibition “Exploraciones y Raíces” (Explorations and Roots), in the restaurant Kintaro, showing the processes and results of a year of work sessions.
"The exposition showed me the solidarity of a multidimensional project, of a courageous co-creation, with a mature framework to be replicated in various places. I could see the fundamentals of the collaboration between two curious cultures that wish to coexist on the basis of respect. Thanks to Innovando la Tradición for showing me how through design specific things can be done that help us to care for the biosphere and the anthroposphere."
—Carmen Serra, Ciudad de México
In Santa María Atzompa, Francisca Ocampo enlightened us with her wisdom and abilities which seem to defy the laws of physics, crafting enormous clay comales. It was finally irresistible to put our hands into the clay.
Memo Ruiz, her husband, told us how his life and the lives of his daughters had changed because of the construction of their new kiln “Jaguar”, built with the Potter’s Learning Community.
The Mateo family, as is customary, delighted us with laughs, colors, and the best mole coloradito in Oaxaca. We talked about the intimate relationship their work has with the territory, about their recent visit to Los Ángeles with Innovando la Tradición, and about the moving encounter they had with their family living there more than 20 years prior.
In Río Blanco Tonaltepec, Demetria and her family received us generously and joyfully with chileatole (a traditional corn soup) and freshly made tortillas. Together with Juan, 11 years old, they gave us a demonstration of their abilities to create beauty with clay. We talked, among many other things, about their participation in the Learning Community, and about their efforts to revive their 4 thousand year old tradition that was at the point of disappearing. Now, thanks to the efforts of all of us, is becoming strong again.
"I returned to my daily life content, knowing that there is a palpable, interesting, and jubilant future for Innovando la Tradición, and that in RVH there are people with the willpower and strength to make possible the changes we need so much."
—Patricia Ortiz Monasterio, RVH 2019 Chair.
Javier Sánchez, member of RVH and partner at Criollo, one of the best restaurants in Oaxaca, facilitated a special service for us and we conversed about the future of Innovando la Tradición, enjoying some of their delicacies. During the chat, James Ritch, from Neural Taller (Neural Workshop), shared with us the diagnostic they had done for Innovando la Tradición, the challenges they observe and the results of the strategic work that we’re doing with them to strengthen the team and our operation.
The time we had together in this 3rd Encuentro was a delight. The experience was transformational and full of learning. Over all, it became clear that it is thanks to the confidence of the Red Valle de Huajes that these projects have been able to grow and flourish in such a steady way.
"These were days to go back to our roots and recognize the great need there is for us to connect with what’s essential to achieve an impact on humanity. The light that resides in the whole community is the living testimonial of the great steps, and the results of the transformation that has been made!"
—Mónica Calderón, Los Angeles.