The history of pottery in Mónica´s family goes back to the beginning of the 20th century in the municipality of Jalpa, Zacatecas, when her great-grandfather Rodrigo Roque Martínez was shot in the midst of the Cristero revolution. In response to this event, his wife Elodia Perales asked her brothers-in-law, who were already dedicated to pottery, to teach their sons and daughters the family trade.

Her grandfather, Rodrigo Roque, along with his brothers, learned to work with clay from a very young age. In the family workshop they made utilitarian pottery such as pots, jugs, plates and other types of utensils, which they sold in the region of the Juchipila Canyon. Later, her grandfather married my grandmother Maria Valdivia and they formed an extended family of 11 children to whom they taught the trade. It is at this time when her grandfather began to make miniature clay pieces, which represented the hallmark of his work in folk art.

This new way of working maintained the traditional processes and techniques used by his ancestors. From carrying the clay from the neighboring hills, the preparation of engobes with earth from the region, to the traditional burning in a wood oven. This knowledge has been passed down through the generations in the family and is preserved to this day, as her mother Ma. Eloisa Roque maintains the way of working that she learned from her parents.

Mónica and her two sisters learned from their mother to work the clay as miniature pieces, related to traditional Mexican cuisine, such as the “trastecitos”, as well as small figures with which represent rural scenes of their region, such as adobe houses, country animals (donkeys, rabbits, chickens, pigs, etc.) and characteristic flora, such as pitayos, nopales and magueys. They also make seasonal pieces such as miniature nativity scenes (3cm), catrinas and altars of the dead.

When Mónica was only 6 years old, she started working with clay, doing simple activities such as painting or carving the pieces, until she gained the necessary skills and knowledge to develop the whole process. Since 2013, Mónica began to give workshops in various institutions in the state of Zacatecas. 

Being a family craft for five generations, it is important to Mónica to preserve and transmit not only the object but all the knowledge that is encompassed during the development of a handmade piece, from obtaining the clay, to the love of the craft, which makes us maintain emotional ties with those who work in the workshop.

Sadly, where there once were entire families in the community who worked in this trade, unfortunately migration and other factors, such as remaining potters passing away, have caused it to be abandoned in their region.

AWARDS

• Second place. Tenth Edition of the “Gran Premio Estatal de Arte Popular” Contest, held in March 2021. Popular toy category.
• Participation in the “Forty-second Edition of the National Ceramics Award”. Held on July 27, 2018, in San Pedro Tlaquepaque.
• Third place. “Second Edition of the National Contest: From Start to Finish. Mexican Popular Traditions” held in the month of October 2018. Miniature category.
• Honorable mention. “Thirteenth Edition of the State Contest of Pottery and Ceramics” held in the month of September 2018.
• First place. “Seventh Edition of the State Folk Art Grand Prize Contest”, held in the month of March 2018. Miniature category.
• Second place. “Decima segunda Edición del Concurso Estatal de Alfarería y Cerámica”, held in the month of July 2017. Category of traditional pottery and ceramics.
• Participation in the “Fortieth Edition of the National Ceramics Award”. Held on June 24, 2016, in San Pedro Tlaquepaque.
• Third place. “Tenth State Competition of Pottery and Ceramics”, held in the month of October 2015. High temperature ceramics category.
• Second place. “Third State Grand Prize of Popular Art Contest”, held in the month of October 2014. Miniature category.
• Second place. “First State Ceramics Competition”, held in the month of September 2006. Miniature pottery category.

ARTIST INFORMATION:

Calle Sierra Mojada #118. Colonia Lomas de San Francisco. Zacatecas, Zacatecas. C. P. 98067.

WhatsApp 4921306941

Home 4928993251 

Facebook: Artesanías Roque

Instagram: Artesanías Roque