Pottery Craftsmanship Training Guatavita, Colombia April 1995 - February 1996 Funded by: Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Implemented by: ICA Colombia, ICA Japan, and local people Guatavita Village used to be a center of traditional pottery industry with its quality clay. It was called ÒPre-ColombiaÓ and became a national cultural asset. Villagers, however, lost their land because of the construction of a dam. They were forced to leave the village, and the traditional pottery industry disappeared. In order to improve the villagersÕ skills and revive the industry, ICA sent two specialists in pottery from Japan. Sixty villagers learned various techniques in the training and are expected to hand them down to the next generation. 1. One of the final products made by a project participant. This training will help foster economic self-sufficiency. Highly Motivated Participants 2. A briefing introductory session was held on the first day of the project. More than 60 people came, exceeding our expectations. 3. Participants are keenly watching the Japanese potter demonstrate the potter's wheel. 4. Participants using the potter's wheel. Eight people learned to use the potter's wheel. 5. Everyone has become quite good at using the wheel after taking time to become used to it. 6. These coffee cups with exquisite inlaid work were made by one of participants, of which a large percentage were women and youth. 'Himozukuri' Pottery-Making With Rope-Shaped clay 7. A lesson in pottery-making by coiling rope-shaped clay, a Japanese technique called "Hi-mo-zu-ku-ri." 8. Demonstration of how to make pottery using the coiling (Himozukuri) technique. 9. Children came with their parents and took part in the pottery class. 10. Making a vase. Pottery-making using rope-shaped clay is a basic technique that easy for beginners to learn. 11. Participant's artwork before baking. 12. Some participants achieved advanced skills to make fantastic pottery. Glazing Techniques 13. Pulverizing local rocks to test glaze. 14.?@ Mixing powder from pulverized local rocks. 15. Coal used in daily life was tried as a glazing material. 16. Making pottery of clay plaster by using a mold. This is a simple mass production technique commonly used locally. These products sold at a low price, especially before they learned to use glazes, bringing little income to the local potters. 17. Pottery made by using molds. Learning a new glazing technique made it possible for them to make various colors of pottery. Remodeling the Oven 18. The oven before remodeling. Its chimney was too large to retain sufficient heat for the whole oven. It was also unstable because of weak legs. 19. The oven after remodeling which now heats the whole oven uniformly. It has four small holes near the bottom instead of a chimney. Legs were reinforced. 20. Inside the oven. We can see the newly made holes for ventilation. 21. Pottery baked using the remodeled oven. They were all perfectly baked without problems. 22. The gas system was improved when the oven was remodeled. Results of the Project 23. Raw clay is now refined with a filter. 24. The Japanese experts advised how to make a big shelf for keeping pottery. 25. Samples of participants' finished products. Now there are a large variety of designs and techniques. 26. A video was made on how to make pottery so that people can make pottery after Japanese experts leave. 27. A signboard showing that this project was supported by Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 28. A certificate of completion was awarded to each participant. Guatavita Village 29. The view of Guatavita village from a nearby mountain. The former site of Guatavita village is now under the huge dam constructed right next to the new village. 30. Many years ago the village was a famous for pottery production. The village has a current population of about 5,000. Farewell 31. A serenade festival was held at the day before the Japanese potters' departure from Colombia. 32. A farewell picnic with the villagers at a nearby hill.   Back to International Projects About ICA | ICA News | Activities in Japan | Overseas Projects Facilitation | Town Making | Join us | Links | Contact Us Home-E | Home-J We are grateful that this site is sponsored by Next Generation Hosting