The Artisans of San Juan de Oriente, Nicaragua
Recognized as one of Nicaragua’s famous “Pueblos Blancos,” San Juan de Oriente is best known for its thriving population of artisans. More specifically, the town boasts an incredible collection of ceramics, pottery, and woodworking craftsmen. The streets are lined with beautiful shops and galleries, colorful ceramics, and friendly faces. The nice weather, easy-to-navigate town, and world-class artisanry make the San Juan de Oriente a worthwhile stop on any trip to the area.Pacaya Lodge & Spa is proud to work directly with three artisans from San Juan de Oriente. They are some of the most talented artisans in all of Nicaragua. We would like to introduce you to José Ortiz Bracamonte, Pedro Guerrero, and Marisol Bracamonte:
José Ortiz Bracamonte:
José at his showroom and workshop in San Juan de Oriente
No art collection is complete without a José Ortiz Bracamonte masterpiece. His award-winning ceramic sculptures and wall pieces are populated with striking color and poetic designs. His work has been featured in galleries in both Europe and the United States, and José continues to be celebrated throughout Nicaragua for his incredible craft.
José has always been interested in color and design. He believes that “colors are like money, to be invested wisely or wastefully.” Drawing inspiration from the colors and shapes in his daily life, José reports that his goal is to “interpret nature, instead of copying it.” This approach leads to a more abstract design style which draws its roots from the beautiful scenery, food, and nature in Nicaragua.
José has been practicing his craft for over thirty years. He currently produces pieces from his workshop, where his son and nephew work alongside him. Over time, he has refined his unique style and process. Jose always starts out with a sketch. He traces an outline of the piece into the clay. When he is satisfied, he carves along the lines. This process gives his work a sense of layering and depth, and the process becomes part of the art itself. Later, when he introduces color, he pairs deep, dark colors with the brilliant, lighter colors in order to play off the contrast and contribute a sense of depth and weight.
Examples of José’s work
José starting out on a new piece
José’s family works with him on his masterpieces
Pacaya Lodge & Spa is thrilled to partner with José Ortiz Bracamonte. He is a remarkable, world-renowned artist, and we couldn’t be happier to work with him.
Pedro Guerrero:
Pedro at his showroom and workshop in San Juan de Oriente
Twenty-eight years ago, with his father’s help, Pedro Guerrero opened his own business in San Juan de Oriente. Since then, his remarkable ceramic vases, lamps, and sculptures have garnered both national and international attention. In 2002, the Nicaraguan Ministry of Culture awarded Pedro the title “Maestro,” and over the course of his career, he has earned twenty-five awards for his artwork.
Pedro starting out on clay vase.
Pedro’s entire process involves about 15 steps from start to finish. Some of these steps include forming the clay on a foot-powered pottery wheel, smoothing the piece, carving the designs, drying, baking the piece in the oven, painting, and shining. Pedro’s oven heats his ceramics to a whopping 825° C! He’s a very talented artist and multi-tasker and can explain his craft to you all while he’s shaping a piece on his wheel.
Pedro works by himself and says that he’s never made the same piece twice, as things always turn out a little bit differently. Like so many talented artists, sometimes he starts with a plan while other times he just “gets in the zone.” He produces both traditional Nicaraguan pottery pieces in addition to more modern, experimental styles for local galleries.
In the future, Pedro hopes to add a teaching center to his workshop. Soon, you may see also Pedro teaching classes in Managua as part of the the government’s ceramics training program. Pedro is committed to helping the next generation of Nicaraguans learn the art.
Be sure to check out Pedro’s incredible collection of ceramics at his workshop in San Juan de Oriente. Pacaya Lodge & Spa is proud to work alongside this outstanding artist and community member.
Marisol Bracamonte
Marisol and her team of talented artisans created the rustic, yet elegant dishes for our restaurant. Her parents started the family workshop in San Juan de Oriente 42 years ago, pioneering this rustic style for utilitarian items such as plates and bowls. Marisol began learning from her mother, Doña Daysi de Salazar, 25 years ago and continues the family tradition working with her 4 siblings, nieces, nephews, and a few neighbors. When her children are not studying, they help out around the workshop and are proud to carry on their family’s artisanal traditions.
Marisol at her workshop in San Juan de Oriente
Their method involves the initial shaping of the clay using a foot-powered pottery wheel and then smoothing the surface. After smoothing comes Marisol’s favorite part, when she can add the subtle details and infuse her creativity into the design. Then the art is left to dry for 2-3 days before heating to 500 degrees in the oven. If the dish is not sufficiently dry, it can explode during the heating process.
Starting out on a new piece
Her goals for the future are to improve her techniques, take on bigger projects, and learn how to create publicity and market her business better, which is a new concept for many Nicaraguans. She’s off to a good start!
More of Marisol’s fine work
It is our pleasure to share with you the incredible work of these artisans. Their work welcomes you to Pacaya Lodge & Spa and creates a unique sense-of-place that feels authentically Nicaraguan. The Lodge hosts weekly artisan galleries on-site and provides day tours to visit several artisans in the area. We know you’ll enjoy their work.
Please check our tours and excursions page to learn more about how you can visit these artists!
