Artisan Stories
Five Questions: Rufina Ruiz LopezÂ
My pottery is inspired by the generations that came before me who have passed down this sacred craft. In my community you are born, raised and live...
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Artisan Stories
The Making of: Akiliba Pots
The rural village of Akiliba, in Northern Uganda, is well off the beaten path. And it is home to a determined group of craftswomen who are using p...
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Artisan Stories
MASTERS OF LAVA ROCK: OUR ARTISAN PARTNERS FROM PUEBLA
Our Mexican artisan partners tell us that they love working with lava rock – as their forefathers (and mothers) did. The textures, the colours, and...
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Artisan Stories
Black Clay and Red Clay: The Magic of Oaxaca
Black Clay of Oaxaca. Red Clay of Oaxaca. The Mixteca Pottery of Oaxaca. All of these Obakki pieces are shaped by hand with the thought and care th...
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Artisan Stories
Eureka Candles: Finding Your Passion
What happens if a young man wants to propose to his love in a small town in Oaxaca, Mexico? He must first ask her parents for her hand in marriage ...
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Artisan Stories
Hands That See: A Mexican Love Story
His workshop is Manos Que Ven (Hands That See). The artisan is Jose Garcia Antonio, a sculptor who lost his sight in the 1950s, due to glaucoma. An...
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Artisan Stories
Five Questions: Alexis Dodd of Steelwood Design
Whether it comes from the cabinet of a home that spent decades filled with love, or from a table gifted to a soldier and his wife as they began a n...
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Artisan Stories
African Baskets: Weaving Stories of Women
These women are incredible, and it is their drive and commitment that is the future of African baskets. They learn their craft by spending hours up...
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Artisan Stories
Five Questions: Ceramic Artist Bianca Pintan of Australia
Today we sit down with ceramic artist and sculptor Bianca Pintan for our series "Five Questions". Bianca draws inspiration from the imperfections i...
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Artisan Stories
Five Questions: Jewelry Designer Jack of Kibera
At Obakki, we always want to know more about the people behind our products. These five questions do just that. Today, we talk to Jack, one of our ...
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Artisan Stories
THINK GLOBAL, ACT LOCAL: ESTABLISHING A LOCAL MARKET FOR ARTISANS
At Obakki, we work with our artisan partners to help them reach their goals, which often emphasize better access to international markets. And as i...
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Artisan Stories
Our Focus on Artisan Development
Our artisan partners are the soul of Obakki—and the reason we do what we do. Our primary objective is to help talented artists around the world bui...
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