By Isabel Carrio | ArtCorps Artist
A mural made from clay bas-reliefs by women artisans and young environmentalists under the guidance of ArtCorps Artist Isabel Carrió now decorates the exterior walls of the historic public baths in Totonicapán’s 48 Cantons.
Courtesy of Reyes Josue Morales
Don Juan, the community potter, lets me know the clay is ready to be molded. And so we carry the clay lumps to the library. Women artisans, high school students and children from Xolsacmalja library will work on this clay.
Stepping into the thermal baths takes you hundreds of years into the past. We picked this iconic spot because we’re studying ancestral practices, and these baths dating back to 1855 represent a source of strength for the community. Our mural is the result of investigating the natural elements at work in the baths as our subject matter, and learning traditional pottery techniques.
Families come here to bathe together, babies have their first bath, and the elderly soothe their pain with the sulfur- and blackberry-infused medicinal waters. The common expression by bathers is “I’m warming my bones,” and the atmosphere in this steamy place is healthy and relaxed. There are three spa sections: Tortuga (Turtle), a maternity area, Barco (Boat), which is for women to use, and Ballena (Whale), for men.
Families arrive on foot or in small buses from several communities, carrying their hampers and natural sponges, starting as early as 4 o’clock in the morning. You can see their glowing, tight-skinned faces as they leave, showing the effect of the sulfury waters.
The most common artisanal clay sculpture process involves forming clay shapes, waiting for them to dry for about three weeks, heating them and then applying lead. We are currently in the waiting period–sun-drying the sculptures and taking them outdoors as the rainy weather allows. The exterior wall of the baths awaits our work, and we are excited and eager to finally see how the pieces come out from Don Juan’s oven.
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This project is being carried out in collaboration with EcoLogic Development Fund.
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