?I am Carito Moroqui. I was born in Tuxtla Gutierrez in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. I am an artisan that makes terracotta and ceramic pieces. I have always considered myself to be a creative and dedicated woman with a special fascination for color.<br><br>
?It was Juanita and Disner, women of Amatenango del Valle and Tonala who were renowned for being skillful in high and low-temperature ceramics, that were my first teachers who shared their wisdom from CELALI (State Center for Indigenous Languages, Art, and Literature). A good friend of mine, Akio, taught me the secrets of Japanese ceramic art, including its creation, philosophy, and the emotions that it reflects. Thanks to these people, I am able to transmit all of my ideas into my art, making them reality.<br><br>
?One of the things I love the most about my work is the ability to disconnect myself from the outside world in order to center myself in each of the pieces that I imagine. I love clay and its great simplicity, capable of being both malleable and firm at the same time, and how each person is capable of leaving a unique touch with their imagination and dedication to the discipline.<br><br>
?The process of mastering this technique was a discipline that turned into a personal challenge for me, primarily because I am left-handed. This increased the level of difficulty of this personal challenge, because I had to create my pieces in a different way and learn to work right-handed. That was until I met the master craftsman Alberto. He is a left-handed artisan who showed me the importance of letting go of my concerns. Now, when I work with my hands, I primarily use my left hand. This made me realize the importance of respecting my own talent and listening to my own voice.<br><br>
?Mexico, with its mosaics, colors, and multiculturality, serves as my primary source of inspiration. The mandalas and textiles give me inspiration to create new pieces with concepts, colors, and designs after the Moroqui style.<br><br>
?Beginning to work on my own and create pieces like other artisans was a challenge, since it required a lot of dedication, impressing upon me the value of responsibility. Family is a fundamental element of life for me. Even though I create the pieces by myself, my father works with me to mine the clay; it is a physically demanding process that involves climbing down to the clay, shovelling it, collecting it in sacks, and transporting it to the workshop. My mother supports me by checking that all of my artisanal works meet our standards and that they are all certified.<br><br>
?Today, I work in art therapy. I focus my emotions on creativity, funneling and transmitting them into positive thoughts and emotions. One of the events that I enjoy the most is helping the Teleton USA Children's Rehabilitation Center each summer; this makes me very happy, and I never stop smiling. Between cheers and dances, the children paint mandalas, hearts, and other types of ceramic pieces. #RescatandoTradiciones (Rescuing Traditions) is a project that I hope to replicate at the state level in order to bring new generations closer to the beauty of preserving ceramics in their community.?
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