PAINTED MORINGA

The women of Vale do Jequitinhonha work together to give life to their clay, making beautiful jars, vases, moringas, and water filters. The different colors come from natural pigments, such as tauá for the red tones and tabatinga for the white ones. With techniques passed down by generations, the women learned to work with clay from the indigenous communities who used to make bowls and urns many centuries ago. An example of this is their use of different kinds of feathers as tools to paint their pieces.

Their work is not only an important source of income but also a way for them to create together and support one another. Their inspiration comes from the courage and capacity to find joy in challenging situations. The Vale do Jequitinhonha is known as the Poverty Vail, caused by many years of aggressive exploitation of the natural resources. The region used to be covered by the Atlantic Forest many years ago. However, the forest was clear cut many centuries ago by farmers to raise their cattle. Grass and depleted soil is what is currently found in the region.

Despite the many challenges in their lives, these artisans find a way to cultivate joy, take care of one another and make beautiful crafts to keep their culture alive.