Maxine Álvarez (MX)

Ashes in a Living Earth

July 14th – July 24th 2024

Maxine Álvarez (Guadalajara, Mexico) studied Literature and started her ceramic practice in 2014. She has developed a solid and comprehensive experimentation, research and production based on studying and collecting clays as well as creating high temperature glazes and natural slips with collected native species in the western region of Mexico.

Throughout her work she gives special importance to silence and quietness, respecting the process time of materials, in a rhythm that allows her to find an intimate connection with the environment, and thus enhancing the spirit of the piece, turning it into a cultural carrier of meanings. Her main aim is to develop a conscious and profound artisanal practice connected to the context and its resources.

She founded Casa Ceniza workshop in 2020 as a ceramic collaborative space in contemplative action, where several activities such as exhibitions, artist residencies, and ceramic courses are organized. She has invited Ceramists to collaborate including Juan Ortí and Miguel Molet from Spain, the Japanese ceramist Yoko Sekino-Bovè, and the Mexican artists Javier del Cueto and Adan Paredes to participate in different activities in Casa Ceniza.

She has recently participated in a collective exhibition Una modernidad hecha a mano at Museo Universitario de Arte Contemporáneo (MUAC) in Mexico City. Exhibited her ash glaze work in the exhibition Diseño en femenino at Museum Franz Mayer in Mexico City and later in Casa de México in Madrid. She is part of the duo artist project MAREMOTO  with her daughter Natalia Ramos.

https://www.instagram.com/maxinealvarez/

Ashes in a Living Earth

July 14th – July 24th

Workshop Categories

The Workshop

In the environment there are constant processes of life and death that normally go unnoticed. In this workshop we will put ourselves in a position to observe the field and recognize the elements that allow us to integrate through an encounter with the surrounding matter. We will start a conversation with the natural resources around us and experience the value of being together in a deeper exploration.

Fire, earth, and ashes will allow us to understand not only the manifestations of the elements when they are integrated, but also our participation in this encounter. Each ash reveals itself after the fire according to what minerals constitute it and each type of collected soil has its language. We will get to recognize the materials that we will use, their malleability, plasticity, time and rhythm. We will participate in the processes of life and death of matter and come up with pieces that carry the essence and character of the landscape we will temporarily inhabit.

BOOK WORKSHOP
Student: €1490 TTC

BOOK WORKSHOP
Normal: €1990 TTC

Housing

  • Accommodation & food are included

  • We can accommodate for special catering

  • All participants sleep in dormitories

  • To book a private room or bring additional guests, get in touch: workshops@boisbuchet.org

Education

  • Our staff are available to help you conceptualize & produce your designs

  • Tools & materials are provided by Boisbuchet

  • All workshops are taught in English

  • The number of participants is limited to 22

Activities