Dolores Hidalgo Ceramics 1

Like a number of other raw material-rich towns in Mexico, Dolores Hidalgo, near San Miguel de Allende, became an important hub of ceramics in Central Mexico. Over time, with the help of the initial help of the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. Dolores made a critical decision to alter the laborious Puebla approach to ceramic production. Dolores learned how to make ceramics stronger, using cheaper materials. This made ceramics more affordable to the average person. Also, they opened up the color pallets to include a spectacular color range and added more non-Spanish traditional Mexican subjects like rural and urban land and cityscapes, birds, animals and flowers. In the 40's, Dolores figured out mass production techniques. Instead of pure artisanal approaches they made things people could use, like tile, vases, pots, kitchen plates, cups and bathroom sinks, as well as stunning folk art and religious themed forms. These decisions made ceramics from Dolores available to everyone, and opened up a worldwide marketplace for this type of Mexican ceramics. They can't call their products Talavera, because Puebla now legally owns that name. But Dolores outsells Puebla, making ceramics for use in everyday life, as well as a more unconfined leisurely folk art form.

Ceramics started tugging on my coat a few months ago. We, Margo Lwna, my interpreter/partner and I, started making trips to Dolores and talking with producers. Margo handled introductions and smoothed over the rough edges. We shook some hands and kissed a few babies. You know the routine. As an expat from the US who doesn't speak Spanish, I've learned that when you move from another country you will not succeed without using your most precious possession - You need to smile. Do that, be polite and make the experience of knowing you a fun one. The rest will come. Not as fast as you want, but it will come.