Ceramics-Making

Dating back to Alcântara’s slaveholding past, ceramics is an age-old practice, notably for the Quilombo of Itamatatiua, whose proximity to clay deposits has allowed the community to become a notable supplier of ceramics. Making ceramics is a woman-led artform, which has been passed down from generation to generation and has come to be collectivized on a broader scale through the creation of the Itamatatiua Women’s Association. Making ceramics involves numerous steps, including gathering the clay mud by the river with men in the community, storing it to keep it moist, mixing it with water, rolling it into malleable clay balls, putting them into an extruder machine, molding the clay into shapes (bowls, plates, figurines, candle holders, etc.), drying them out for 2 or more days, baking them for 24 hours in communal ovens with the help of men in the community. These ceramics, which have come to be renowned locally, nationally, and even internationally, are sold to numerous restaurants and homeware stores, both domestic and worldwide! To learn more, visit Itamatatiua Women’s Association!