Throughout the week, Elena will guide us in exploring and documenting our personal histories—our memories, hopes, and fears—through thoughtful conversation and hands-on creative practices.

We’ll visit this women’s cooperative known for their vibrant appliqué and embroidery work. Through their pieces, they tell stories of daily life—turkeys, tomatoes, village festivals—as well as deeper themes such as drought, migration, and resilience. Their artistry is both personal and political, rooted in lived experience and cultural memory.

We’ll meet renowned muralists Rosario and Beto of Lapiztola, whose name cleverly merges lápiz (pencil) and pistola (gun), suggesting the pencil is  more powerful than the gun. They will lead us in a conversation about layering imagery to communicate ideas. In keeping with our theme of self-reflection and acceptance, they will guide us through the process of creating a self-portrait stencil, which we can apply on paper or directly onto our huipiles.

Elena Martínez Bolio, a renowned Yucatecan artist with a national and international presence, works across various disciplines, exploring diverse techniques and artistic expressions in visual, written, and performing arts. Textile and thread often serve as her medium, materializing her creativity and defining much of her work. Elena uses her art to challenge conventions, addressing social issues, particularly those related to women, inequality, and illness. In 2023, she was recognized as a finalist in Yucatán’s PECDA program for artists with a career. Elena intricately weaves and unravels herself in each piece, channeling raw emotions through her threads.

Miriam Campos is a 3rd generation embroidery artist from San Antonino Castil­lo Velasco in Oaxaca. She and her family are known for their signature designs and colorful floral embroidery used in their traditional clothing. Miriam's mother Reyna Cornelio, grandmother Virginia Sanchez, and all her aunts are established designers and embroiderers. Miriam has exhibited in museums nationally and internationally including the Rufino Tamayo Museum in Oaxaca, Santa Fe International Folk Art Market, New York Botanical Garden, and the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C.

Carolyn Kallenborn, Professor Emerita from the University of Wisconsin, is an internationally acclaimed artist working with textiles, film, installation, and community projects. She has 25 years of university teaching experience, leading students in collaboration and developing a personal creative practice. She has traveled extensively to research traditional and contemporary textiles and artisan projects. Kallenborn has been teaching, learning, and collaborating with artisans in Oaxaca since 2004. She has been a cultural, artistic, and technical guide for students, interns, academics, artists, and artisans. Through exhibitions and her documentary films Woven Lives and La Vida y Los Muertos, she helped introduce Oaxacan artisans to the international art community. 

This trip of 12 participants begins with dinner on November 9 and ends the evening of November 16th, our sharing and celebration. Hotel check out in the morning of Nov 17th.

We will have lunch together each day and have an opening and closing dinner together, (breakfasts and dinners are on your own), instructors and guides, transport, activities, and workshop fees are included.

From November 9-17, we have accommodations for both single and double rooms at Hotel La Casona del Llano, a beautiful hotel next to Parque Llano with a lush courtyard and restaurant on site. The hotel is an easy walk to both Centro and Casa Flor y Piedra. 

The price of this 7 day/ 8 night trip per person* :

• $2800.00 USD Single Room
• $2500.00 USD Double Occupancy with Two Beds
• $2000.00 USD Local, No Accommodation

Payments for the trip shall be made in full, and include the NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT of $500 so we can reserve accommodations, transportation and artisan workshops.

Refunds for cancellations will be returned on the following schedule:

• 120+ days before the start of the trip, 80% refund (total minus deposit);
• 90-120 days before, 50% refund;
• 90 days before, no refund available

Apply today! We review each application to get to know each participant and give us insight to create the best experience for each group. Once we've reviewed your application, we'll reach out ASAP to schedule a call, answer questions and send payment info. We use Stripe as our payment processor.

We will fill the trip in the order of application and payment received.

Payment plans are available on a case-by-case basis. Please send an e-mail to kim@travelingtradersbazaar.com an email to explore this option.