Noe Leteriely
JOSE ARELLANO
Francisco Lorenzo
Universidad Iberoamericana Puebla
Miguel Hernández Lechuga
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Ometéotl is a Mexican clay artisan workshop, located in Santa María Atzompa, Oaxaca, which has an impact on promoting decent work, responsible production, and consumption of natural resources.
Ana Martínez, daughter of two artisans from the equally renowned region for their craftsmanship in Atzompa, Oaxaca, recounts how her life has revolved around art since she was 8 years old, when she began playing with clay in her mother's workshop. Today she owns the "Ometéotl" workshop. In it, the clay used in her pieces is responsibly sourced, extracted, and treated with 100% organic materials to prevent pollution, and now provides space for other women to learn and teach other women and children about crafts in the region.
Ana's work is primarily present in Mexico today but is also exported to other countries like the United States, for private collectors and art galleries.
Ana and her work as an artisan and its potential for future growth and collaboration among women, mentions that most of her work is in Mexico but also in the United States, where her pieces are highly regarded for their quality.
The materials used for her art are 100% natural, and they strive to produce pieces with minimal harm to the land and the environment. Additionally, they use coffee and cocoa husks to dye their clay pieces, giving them a unique touch. They also use unique techniques and collaborations with non-Oaxacan artisans, which is a significant project they have been working on. They take ideas from their main artists to adapt them to their art. They also incorporate part of their ancestors' art and add part of themselves and other artist friends in some new pieces.
Ana's passion, demonstrated in her pieces created in her "Ometéotl" Workshop with natural clay, is inspired by her ancestors and their crafts. Her mother and father primarily, are the inspiration behind creating what is now her own workshop. Ana explains that her process of collecting and preparing clay, and the motivation behind her decision to start her own workshop, was due to the growing demand for her pieces in Mexico but also in other countries. She also highlighted her commitment to employing other women in her workshop, providing them with skills and job opportunities in the region. Besides fostering love for Oaxacan art in children who, like her, will also grow up surrounded by this type of art, positioning Atzompa in the region and in the world.
Ana's work in her "Ometéotl" workshop focuses on creating crafts made of natural materials, specifically Oaxacan clay, 100% natural. She emphasizes the environmental compatibility of the materials used and the potential for children to learn and appreciate the craft. Ana expresses her hope that her daughters and other children continue to be involved and that the workshop's impact on society grows.
This workshop has a positive impact on the region by generating employment, but also by promoting crafts in the region, in children who are learning to appreciate local work and how they can contribute to positioning their town in the region and in the world.
Ana's "Ometéotl" workshop is a solid and sustainable workshop that currently functions as a community space for learning but also for sharing.
Each product is made with raw materials from the region, considered free of contaminants and extracted naturally to be organically processed by artisans in the region.
The prices are accessible; nowadays, anyone can buy the products directly at the workshop, located in the community of Santa María Atzompa, but also through social networks (@Ana_martinez.alarzon) or WhatsApp. In addition to other art galleries in Oaxaca.
It also has an impact on local and regional business by positioning Atzompa as the cradle of clay crafts in Oaxaca, exporting to other countries like the United States.
As mentioned earlier, by creating crafts made of 100% natural materials, the impact is minimal. There is no use of plastic, and natural waste from coffee and cocoa is used for the finishes of some of their pieces, making them different and unique. On the other hand, Ana contributes to the sustainable development of the region and generates jobs for women who, like her, promote the art of the region. Over time, this will help the community grow and reuse the resources they have.
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Ana Martínez Alarzon, Owner
A Mexican clay artisan workshop, located in Santa María Atzompa, Oaxaca, which has an impact on promoting decent work, responsible production, and consumption of natural resources.