Preserving Clay, Building Culture
Support the Espadas Family & the Future Uayma Ceramic School
Since 2019, we’ve been working alongside the Espadas Family from Uayma, Yucatán — the last known artisans in the region who preserve an ancestral clay-making technique passed down through six generations. Using only locally sourced, sustainable materials, their practice is a living legacy of Mayan knowledge.
But this legacy is at risk.
As mass tourism and rapid development spread across the Yucatán Peninsula, many artisans from indigenous communities have been forced to abandon their traditions in search of economic opportunity. The introduction of plastics and a lack of access to high-value markets have also contributed to the decline of traditional crafts — especially pottery, one of the most endangered.
Why the Espadas Family Matters
While other potters in the region import their materials or use commercial clays, the Espadas are the only ones still producing their own clay using a sacred, original formula unique to this land. Their work holds not only artistic but cultural, historical, and ecological significance.
Our Shared Mission
We’re on a mission to help the Espadas family preserve and expand their practice — not just for their own livelihood, but to inspire a cultural revival throughout the region. Together, we’re working to:
Grow their family business
Share their knowledge with other communities
Host workshops and artist residencies
And most importantly, complete the construction of the Uayma Ceramic School — a space for learning, creating, and protecting ancestral wisdom.
What We've Achieved Together (So Far)
Thanks to the generosity of our community, we’ve already made important progress:
✅ Raised over $13,000 USD to build a professional studio that increased production capacity and improved drying conditions
✅ Boosted pottery sales by 30% through marketing and sales strategy
✅ Hosted 60+ workshops, generating over $9,000 USD in direct income for the family
✅ Organized 2 exhibitions in regional art festivals, driving both visibility and sales
✅ Hosted 3 international residencies in collaboration with Tulum Art Club (artists from Iran, Argentina, and Italy)
✅ Opened a ceramic gallery in Valladolid to showcase and sell the family's work
What’s Next: Building the School
Our next goal is to complete the Uayma Ceramic School, a space where the Espadas can teach others, welcome artists from around the world, and help revive a craft that once defined an entire region.
Your support today helps protect ancient knowledge, create sustainable livelihoods, and ensure the next generation can connect to their roots through clay.
