Michoacán Artisan Support Team

Terry Baumgart, the artist co-ordinator for Michoacán, raves about the team that supports local artists and makes the Michoacán presence at the Feria a reality. In this article, she introduces readers to Alice Garcia, Lupe Garcia Rios and Teo Servin Barriga.

Alice Garcia, a volunteer photographer from California, helps with local projects and with the Feria and captures the beauty of the artists and their work. (Photo not available ... photographers are always behind the camera.)

Lupe and  one of her pieces of work.

Guadalupe (Lupe) Garcia Rios, in addition to assisting in the co-ordination of Feria artisans from Michoacán has been making pottery for over 24 years. Her specialty is high-fire ceramics, which is lead-free and fired at about 1,250 degrees centigrade. 

Guadalupe has been teaching her craft to her three daughters and one son and they are all now highly accomplished ceramicists as well. Lupe and one of her daughters will be showing pottery made by the family at Feria 2018. Lupe has won national awards and she and her children have won numerous State awards as well.  

Lupe creates extremely complex three-dimensional work that includes pre-hispanic symbols and legends of the past as well as modern day depictions of traditions and customs of their community. This work is crafted on both non-electric and electric wheels which are then fired in a gas kiln. Her more modern, but extremely time-consuming approach differs markedly from the old-style approach of other ceramicists.

International buyers come to the Feria to purchase her concurso (judged shows) level pieces. Recently, a film maker honored Lupe for her work by creating a short documentary film that includes the long trek up the mountain to obtain her clay to the actual producing of her work. Lupe will present this video along with a workshop this year at the Feria. A version with English subtitles is being produced, but you can view the Spanish version here.

Lupe at work.

What is apparent when one talks with Lupe is her spiritual connection with her work and mother earth. In addition to Lupe's commitment to sharing her knowledge and expertise with her children, Lupe has taken courses at the Escuela Nacional de Ceramica (National Ceramic School) in Jalisco and has then shared her new gained knowledge not only with her family, but with fellow artisans in her community. In addition, thanks to the coordination by Brigitte Ordoquy Plummer, the Feria coordinator for Chiapas, Lupe and her family recently went to Chiapas as volunteers and shared some of their knowledge regarding high fire ceramics, glazes, and so on with many artisans of Chiapas. 

Lupe believes that teaching the younger generation is her way of ensuring that her craft will endure.

Lupe's work.

Lupe lives in the village of Tzintzuntzan near Lake Pátzcuaro, one of many Michoacán towns continuing the living tradition of alfarería (pottery making). Clay is abundant in the hills and many Purépecha dedicate their lives to creating both utilitarian and artistic pottery.  

Her designs are inspired not only by pre-Hispanic symbols but also from the countryside and nature. The land around her with its high volcanic peaks, lakes, wildlife and other environmental elements figure prominently in her creations. Using local clay to create each piece, Lupe feels that she is giving back to the earth that which makes her art possible.

Lupe's work.

Lupe with a large work.

Lupe and her daughters in their studio.

Teófila (Teo) Servin Barriga also helps support the artisans attending the Feria from Michoacán. Teo is generous with her knowledge and expertise and has presented workshops locally, nationally and internationally. In addition, she provides advice and orientation to new invitees to the Feria.

Teo and award-winning rebozo

Teo started  embroidering when she was twelve, learning her craft from her mother and has taught many younger family members in order to ensure that the craft continues. Her specialty is colorful hand embroidery work on manta (a traditional hand-woven cotton) or other cotton cloth. Her unique, whimsical, and original designs tell of life in the lakeside communities: farming, fishing, fiestas, including depiction of the traditional old men dances, marriages, trees of life and other themes and events. 

Teo's rich imagination enlivens her charming tapestries (see below for photos of some of the detail in her work). In addition, when a researcher arrived in her community many years ago, she learned more about the prehispanic symbols of the Purepechan people. Thus, some of her designs include these ancient symbols. The result of Teo's work includes a variety of clothing for both men and women, purses, shoes, dolls, pillows and more!

Teo working

Teófila is a very prolific worker and she has won many prizes at concursos (judged shows). She is considered a "maestra sinidal" or expert by the Instituto Del Artesano Michoacano (IAM) and is called upon by the State organization to be a judge in other communities in Michoacan at their judged shows. A book has been written about her called "Bordados para ser Contados."

Teo and her work.

Detail of Teo's work.

More detail of Teo's work.