Handmade books in San Cristóbal de las Casas

Lorenza Pérez and Mari López lean over a tank filled with water and a gray mass that was once books, cardboard boxes, magazines, newspapers and school notebooks. They add flower petals there before pressing the dough onto a screen and then onto a metal plate, from which they remove excess water with a sponge. When placed to dry in the sun, each plate carries with it five large sheets of new paper which, at the end of the process, will have a new story to tell.

Founded 42 years ago by the poet Ambar Past, Taller Leñateros, in San Cristóbal de las Casas, is dedicated to manufacturing handcrafted books with the same care that an artist carves a work of art. With this work, they intend to document, value and disseminate original languages, contemporary indigenous literature, visual arts and the wisdom and values ​​of the native peoples of Mexico and Central America. Therefore, they are dedicated to recovering ancient techniques that were on the verge of disappearing, such as the extraction of natural dyes from wild herbs to give color to the images printed on their pages.

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The entire book production process takes place within the workshop, from paper recycling to screen printing and binding work. Everything is artisanal, sustainable and employs artists from the Mayan communities of Chiapas. Three generations of the same family have passed through there, with the job being passed down from mother to daughter.

Petra was one of those people. After visiting the workshop with her mother, as a child, and making her first handmade notebooks under the supervision of Ambar Past, she returned as an adult to work on compiling and translating traditional songs from the Tzotzil communities of Chiapas. It took 20 years to travel through the villages, recording the songs, transcribing them word for word from Tzotzil – a language that lacks written standardization – and collecting images and paintings made by the women. The work culminated in the launch of the book Spells and Drunkenness: songs of Mayan women.

Another important publication by Taller Leñateros is the book Bolom Chon, which presents one of the most traditional songs of the Tzotzil people for children. Very popular in Chiapas, the song praises the figure of the Jaguar, an important animal in local mythology. “These songs need to remain alive among children, or the culture is lost”, explains Petra.

All of the workshop’s income comes from the sale of handmade books and notebooks. In addition to the store itself, the products can also be found in cafes and bookstores in San Cristóbal de Las Casas. In addition, they offer woodcutting, bookbinding and screen printing workshops for those interested in learning the art of making books. Apprentices from all over the world have passed through there: “We feel very proud when they send us messages saying that they are already making their own notebooks in their countries. It’s an art that cannot be missed”, says Javier, editor of the workshop.

Address: 54 Flavio A.Paniagu Street, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas Mexico

Contact: Tel/Fax: ++ (52) (967) 678 51 74 / tallerlenateros@yahoo.com.mx

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