Felipa Hernández Barragán

Felipa’s mother, an artisan from Morelos, Tlayacapan was known throughout her community for her belief that clay holds curative and restorative powers. Her mother made “air cures” or cura de aires these consisted of the bull, the centipede, the coyote, the tarantula, the wall lizard, the healer, the snake, the enroscada snake, the patient, the scorpion, the toad and the builotita, a bird-shaped whistle.

Over sixty years ago Felipa carried on her mother’s tradition, as creator of the cura de aires. These items are passed over the bodies of the sick to aid in healing. Those within her community believe it is her lifelong dedication that has preserved this important tradition within her people.

She creates the pieces by firing them on a comal griddle, covering them to form a makeshift kiln. Bathing the pieces in a layer of greta to glaze, and firing one last time. Once cool, they decorates them in bright aniline dyes, and a morsel of glitter.

She also creates various pieces for holidays like Day of the Dead and Christmas, these include items like traditional candlesticks, incense burners, and crèche figures.