Over a decade ago, I traveled to Taxco to shop for silver jewelry.
Located three hours southwest of Mexico City, Taxco was the most important silver mining center during the Spanish conquest. After centuries of intense extraction, silver and mining activities dwindled, but in the 1940’s William Spratling, a New York architect and promoter of muralist Diego Rivera, moved to Taxco and brought new life to the town. He commissioned local silversmiths to produce his designs, and when his business took off, he trained more people, until most of the local families learnt the craft. Spratling inspired artisans to explore traditional motifs from their ancient past, instead of relying on European designs.
When I visited Taxco, Spratling's design influence seemed long gone. Most of the stores sold copies of Tous, Tiffany, and cheap designs from China. I had trained as a ceramist, printmaker and painter, and was surprised to see a lack of creativity among so many skilled artisans.
It had been difficult for me to imagine my place in the world as an artist, because everything I saw in museums, galleries and books seemed impossible to improve, but here was a niche open for exploration. Art, for me, must come from the depths of human imagination. I knew that learning to work with metal would take time, but I was already rich with ideas.
Cycles Ring.
Handmade with recycled sterling silver.
Soon in my online shop.