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Juan Carlos Villanueva

"Hi, I'm Juan Carlos Villanueva and I work in high-fired ceramics and stoneware. This technique came to the region 60 years ago when Ken Edwards (a Canadian) and Jorge Wilmot (from the U.S.) brought it to our part of Mexico. At the time, my father was a young man and worked with Mr. Edwards as administrator in his workshop. I was about nine years old and I'd play with the clay, creating figures as though it was modeling clay. I enjoyed learning how to make a model and other articles.

"My father began to evolve a new technique he called glassy stoneware in color. He was invited to form part of an association to create faces and model figures.

"When my father began to work independently of the associations, I was 16 and I helped him with his work. He taught me to make models and molds, to paint freehand, to prepare the oxides for glazes and colors, to fire the pieces, and to administer his workshop and ten assistants.

"In 1978, my father – Carlos Villanueva González – was becoming known around the country and received the national prize for the Best Artisan of Mexico. He participated again in 1979 and won both second and third place. By then, I began to like the idea of being recognized at the national level and started participating in events organized by the federal government for excellence in handicrafts. I entered a few of my own designs and won second and third places.

"These prize-winning designs are on exhibit in the Ceramic Museum of Tlaquepaque, Jalisco and in the office of the Mayor of Tonala, Jalisco. They can also be seen in the collection catalogue of the Museo del Premio Nacional de la Cerámica Pantaleón Panduro on pages 83 and 84.

"With the devaluation of 1985 came higher taxes and less support for artisans. Our workshop with its eight employees went bankrupt. And so we returned to the tradition of a family workshop.

"I really enjoy what I do and want to thank Novica shoppers for choosing my designs. They are truly pieces with a rich tradition, crafted with much love."