Hand-woven 4x6.5 Cotton Rug with Diamond and Mexican Motifs 'Mexican Heritage' Item ID: 2671807922

“Hi, Im Gregorio Cupertino Ruiz. I am originally from Teotitlán del Valle in the state of Oaxaca. My parents are dedicated to making textiles on the whip loom; I learned it from my parents and the rest of my family. For me, continuing this work is like paying homage to them.

“I remember that from a very young age, I began to learn on the looms, seeing how the wool acquired its natural colors with the anilines or natural leaves that give color to the wool and then form such as bedspreads, curtains, rugs etc. It is not complicated, but it does require time, since sheeps wool as the main material involves different steps: from the shearing and the washing process to remove impurities, to spinning it and preparing it to be able to dye it, and finally placing it on the loom to be able to work it and obtain different designs. Each one of these carries a great artisanal process to achieve an ideal piece.

“My inspiration comes from what I see, and from my ancestral culture. This allows me to go beyond what I sometimes only visualize. I wish to continue working and that my art can be known by more people, preserving the family heritage that we currently continue to cultivate.”