Taking chances and following my heart to Nicaragua
This past February I took a leap of faith and followed my heart to Nicaragua. I set myself off to make an impact as a designer. I love being a designer and an artisan and making things with my hands, but I always wondered how can design make an impact on a community? One way that I am trying to discover this, is by collaborating with various artisans in Nicaragua to export products as a means of creating economic opportunities in a country where unemployment and underemployment is a predominant issue.
I have also been giving small workshops on ceramics techniques that I know as well as learning about the techniques that are used in Nicaragua.
Modern interpretation of traditional ceramics techniques from San Juan de Oriente.These vases were crafted by Darwing Calero the design was inspired by a leaf I found.
The leaf!
Reversible planters, still a work in progress!
Organic shaped wood bowls hand crafted in the town of Masaya.
Reinventing new product from unused scraps of wood.
Nicaragua is very beautiful, I am posting some images of my life here and some things I have seen, enjoy and come visit!
Playa Hermosa, Nicaragua
Cows in Nicaragua roam freely.
Volcan Masaya, photo taken from the bus on the way up North.
Bark of a tree while hiking to Somoto canyon in northern Nicaragua.
Nicaragua is abundant with bright colors! A door in Granada Nicaragua.
Getting to know the community in San Juan de Oriente.
Small bowl I made using traditional techniques of burnishing the vessels and later
carving geometric patterns.
Typical wood fired kiln in San Juan de Oriente.
Mold making workshop, as a part of my volunteer work with Atraves, a non profit that started a ceramics cooperative named UniArte, as a means of creating a group of artisans to work together and help promote their work.
Learning about ceramics in Central America at Mi Museo in Granada with members of the cooperative UniArte.
The reason why I love Nicaragua, people are very resourceful and ingenious. Here is a discarded Bic pen, now used as a brush (the brush is made of human hair, not only clever but really nice to paint oxides).
Processed clay that I found in Laguna Apoyo, a beautiful crater lake.
Stomping clay with bare feet, this is something that everyone has to experience. Seated behind me is one of the artisans Dona Lucia.
