Talavera-Style Ceramic Wall Sculpture of the Virgin Mary - Talavera Guadalupe in Orange

Artisan Organization: Juana Ponce

Country: Mexico

"I was born in the Mexican state of Guanajuato, where Don Miguel Hidalgo left his ceramic heritage to the native peoples of the region. Today it is an active legacy. I began working in this beautiful craft in 1994, thanks to my father, and my husband and children help me see that it is carried on.

"Working with Talavera-inspired ceramics is fascinating. I like it because it allows me to create using various colors and forms. I try to draw my inspiration from what the ceramic transmits – its tradition and its characteristic colors from our vibrant Mexican culture. When it comes to jewelry, I really enjoy being able to combine Talavera-style ceramics with silver, giving it an elegant touch. We have our own glaze formulas originating from this beautiful region.

"Working as a family is very important, allowing us to bring our points of view to the table with more freedom and simplicity. My sons are in charge of selling our crafts to other parts of the country, optimizing resources, quality control, and designing our pieces. I consider compromise, identity, admiration, creativity, and responsibility to be important traits in each member of the family. Without them, a vital part of our work would be lost. We work by hand alongside other families that collaborate with us on each detail. Together, we reaffirm our identity, and in this way we introduce this art to the world.

"Each one of the obstacles we have faced has shown how strong we are as a family. One of these challenges was the passing of our father only a few years ago. He lives on in our artisan legacy. Therefore, he is with us always. He showed us the value of tenacity and resistance in the face of life's challenges. In this way, we grow and solidify our legacy. Working with you, we hope to consolidate our work and our workshop and leave a family legacy that endures for many generations, just like my father did.""