MAMAZ

On Thursday the 31st of July, we were invited by Marietta Bernstorff to visit the Mamaz group in Tanivet, about an hour and half outside of Oaxaca. 

 MAMAZ is a non-profit women’s art collective, with headquarters in Oaxaca and arose from "the the collective questioning and reflection on the state of our nutritional base, maize."

"Our projects focus on bringing together women whom share and teach each other about what is happening to our local food supply. "

The project began with an invitation from Ac Ferdanmi of Oaxaca, an organisation promoting the development of women, children and communities in the state of Oaxaca.

With the MAMAZ, Marietta has been working with women in Tanivet for four years, teaching them the skill of patchwork and embroidery, and helping them to reach a US market. As agriculture and specifically maize is traditional in the area, the women are encouraged to explore their memory of maize cultivation, using recycled fabrics to tell stories of their experiences. 

The stories often describe the significant impact immigration has had on the women and their families. All the women we met had husband who either were, or had been living in the United States. This has led to a considerable loss of traditional knowledge and skill. 

Juana, the spokes woman for the group in Tanivet, has taken over from her husband and tends the maize herself. Having worked all day in the fields, she struggles with the delicacy of embroidery, which means her work does not sell at the same prices as some of the others. However, although her stye was rougher, I thought it had an honesty and integrity that was very moving. 

As well as being an alternative means of income for, it was clear to see that the work also had other benefits, including empowering the women with an understanding of business. Marietta described how, although initially being a cause for suspicion, the womens' work has brought them new respect from their husbands.

Marietta will continue to work with this group until they have become self-sustainable; either selling the work through their own connections in the US, or establishing themselves within the craft markets around Oaxaca. This production gives them the opportunity to think further about their experiences and environment, as well as developing a skill they can pass on to their children. 

See more photos of the womens' group and their embroidered stories on our facebook page. 

Anna Bruce