Family: Gaytan
Region: Oaxaca, Mexico
Comunidad: Zapotec
Technique: Decorated Pottery / Barro Decorado

Ms. Gaytan, “I started by playing with clay, learning by watching my mother. This craft has been passed down through generations in my family. I’ve been making clay pieces for about 40 years. I began by making utilitarian items, but in 2007, I shifted to creating decorative pieces. Since then, I’ve focused on crafting for decoration. I use red earth and natural clay, which gives the flowers their beige color. It takes about a week to make one piece, including the preparation of the clay, plus another week for drying, and a day for firing.”