RAW, RUSTY JOURNALS WITH ALEX CASTRO FERREIRA
Oaxaca City, Oaxaca Mexico - February 9-17 2024
Portugal mixed media Artist Alex Castro Ferreira loves to create worn, raw, rusty journals that you can write, paint, doodle, stitch, and play with. What inspires us about her work is the use of rust, resin and metal. We are thrilled that she will be joining us in Oaxaca next year.
This journey with Alex in Oaxaca will make us smile, laugh and feel grateful for all the blessings in our lives. We will gather photos and memorabilia, wire, rust, paper, fabric and whatever else appeals to us as we create our raw, rusting journals.
Various tins used to hold precious memories
We love her use of metal throughout her journals and the covers?! Little pieces of art in themselves.
Itinerary
Day 1, Friday Feb. 9
7:00 We will meet, imbibe in a drink and some botanas before settling in for the night.
Day 2, Saturday Feb. 10
Breakfast at the hotel and then we will gather in the studio to begin our lesson with Alex. She will share our schedule for the week. Today we will rust watercolor papers and fabrics, and create resin papers. Lunch will be from 1-2, then it’s off for a quick walking tour of the city to give you glimpses of places you will want to return to further explore.
We will continue working this afternoon until around 5:00. This evening will be at La Olla, with our friend Chef Pilar Cabrera.
Day 3, Sunday Feb. 11
Breakfast at the hotel, and at 9:30, create all day with Alex stopping for lunch at 1, then stopping around 4:30. We will use black beans to dye papers and fabric. Then we will begin assembling pages using some of the organic materials. You will have free time before we meet this evening for dinner.
Day 4, Monday Feb. 12
Travel Day
Breakfast at the hotel, then class at 9:30. We will begin creating a patchwork with photos and reveal our black tea dyed papers.
We will leave for the weaving village of Teotitlan del Valle for a special cooking class with our amiga, Reina Mendoza.
Dinner will be on your own tonight.
Day 5, Tuesday Feb. 13
Breakfast at the hotel, then class begins at 9:30. Today we will work on our book covers, write a love letter and start assembling our journals. We will stop for lunch and you will have some free time after class before we meet for dinner.
Day 6, Wednesday February 14
Happy Valentine’s Day! Travel Day
Breakfast in the hotel, then we are off to the pottery village of Santa Maria Atzompa where we will visit Ana Maria Alarzon’s taller de escultura y ceramica. We saw Ana’s face pots in a local restaurant and tracked her down. Her son’s studio is nearby with many more modern interpretations.
You will have some time to explore this village and lunch will be on your own. Free time after you return to the hotel to work on your journal or walk around the city until this evening’s cooking class with Chef Ana Elena. Of course, there will be chocolate!
Day 7, Thursday February 15
Breakfast and then a full day in the studio, assembling and binding our journals. We will provide lunch and dinner.
Day 8, Friday February 16
Have breakfast and then at 9:00 head to the studio where we will finish stitching, stapling, and binding our journals. Alex will share how to create a wrapping for our journals.
We will have lunch in the market and then you will have all afternoon to finish shopping or visiting the many museums. This evening we will have our farewell dinner at Nois.
Day 9, Saturday February 17
The trip is over and you may leave anytime this morning.
This Escape Includes
8 nights accommodation at Hostal de La Noria, double occupancy
Lessons with Alex
Welcome reception and fiesta
All meals except for one lunch and one dinner
Visits to markets
Two cooking classes
Free time to explore
Visits to local artisans
Farewell dinner
Some supplies
Private Facebook page
New art tribe
The price for this workshop is $3,800 and limited to 12 people. A limited number of single rooms are available for an additional $600.
A $1,000 non refundable deposit is due upon registering. The final payment is due September 10, 2023.
Price does not include airfare to/from Oaxaca.
Accommodations: Located in a colonial building just two blocks from the zocolo, Hostal de La Noria has free wifi, a restaurant, a pool, bar and rooftop terrace. It is located across from the Textile Museum.
La Noria
Airport: Xoxocotlan International Airport is an international airport located in Oaxaca City, in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. The Airport has only one terminal that handles domestic and international air traffic. Code: OAX.
WE WILL PROVIDE
some paint
black ink
some metal for rusting
coffee, salt for rusting
some papers
spray bottles/vinegar
envelopes
lighter
black beans
adhesive spray
baby wipes
sponges
masking tape
gloves
STUDENT SUPPLY LIST
Original photos from beloved ones that you will print in black and white laser /reverse on plain paper
Gather precious items again from beloved ones like drawings, old recipes, handwriting letters, passports, identity cards, a watch, an earring, a ring, bits of hair, a tooth endless list
Organic elements like a small branch of wood, coconut leaves, eucalyptus leaves, dried flowers…
Two vintage hard book covers - 7” x 5”
Small tintypes (Alex buys hers online either on Ebay or Etsy shop) or small black and white original photos
1 matchbox (2 x 1.20 inches)
Small brush
Small bottle of matte gel medium (Alex uses liquitex)
Paper scissors
An awl and a hammer
Strong glue - Alex uses loctite
Double sided tape
A stapler with extra staples
A minidater (optional)
Vintage dictionary pages or old pages
Feathers
Fasteners
Small objects found in flea markets like old brushes, rulers, nails ….
Tim Holtz remnant rub specimen (optional)
Rusty wire (Alex has several gauges and buys them online)
Yellow/white tape
Exacto knife with extra blades
Watercolor paper
Plain paper
A stamp with lettering (optional - Alex uses it a lot)
Rusty flat objects found in flea markets to rust our papers and fabrics
Kitchen thread
White fabric like linen, cotton, silk, organza (think old T-shirts, skirts that you don’t use anymore will be perfect)
Negative photos
Slides
Spines from old books
Vintage paper
DMC thread/sewing machine thread
A needle/thread
A rag
A bone folder
Wax thread
Glue stick
Alcohol inks - Alex uses Dijon and Cranberry by Tim Holtz
small cutting mat
pen, ruler, and a compass
This itinerary may change due to weather, new opportunities or the whim of the group.
Portugal mixed media artist Alex Castro Ferreira embraces her French and Portuguese cultures in her altered books and journals. She uses rust, resin, recycled objects and talisman jewelry to tell her story, where she is from, and where she is going. A world traveler, Alex collects ephemera everywhere she goes. She lives with her beloved husband, Luis in Portugal. This is Alex’s first Bellissima Art Escape.
