My Project

This afternoon after Spanish classes, Natlie, Agustin (one of the ProMexico coordinators) and I met with Cuahtemoc, one of the anthropologists who runs the Union of Community Museums here in Oaxaca. He explained in further detail what we will be doing for our project and it turns out we are going to have the opportunity to work together.

Our project involves a series of activities. We will be researching various artisan communities in the area to learn about the history and process behind creating numerous local crafts. I will be interviewing artisans and other community members and taking pictures, while Natalie reproduces some of the art forms for an upcoming exhibition that will be displayed at the museum at Santo Domingo in the center of the city this December.

I will also be involved in facilitating a number of discussions in various pueblos. The exhibition is going to revolve around the idea of "community" in these towns and citizens will contribute their input so we can create a timeline of how things were in comparison to how things are. The communities will discuss different topics such as the transitions that have taken place surrounding health care, the economy, local governing organizations and religious and cultural traditions. All of this information will be shared through the exhibit that Natalie and I help create at the museum.

I am very excited because we are going to have the opportunity to interact with a number of local artisans, museum staff, community members/leaders, as well as members of the Union of Community Museums and INAH (a local organization that has control over the archaeological and anthropological sites in Oaxaca). We will visit at least two of the four communities that are participating in this exhibition. And Natalie will be creating a series of murals with the children from three of the areas. These paintings will also be circulated through the community museums.

When I return from my trip to Villa Hermosa, Natalie and I will meet with the other anthropologist, Teresa Morales, on Monday to begin planning the rest of our project. I will try to send some pictures of the communities I visit in the near future. Agustin has promised to send me photos of the exhibit in December so we can share the finished product!