Films
In 2005, I think it was, I went to Pátzcuaro, Michoacan, to learn something about artes populares there. With letters of introduction, I met several remarkable and wonderful artisans, both "Gran Maestros" and commerically-oriented artisans, interviewed them, and had the good fortune of engaging my friend and colleague José Luis Reza, to join me as cinematographer and, later, as editor of the documentary, which I produced and directed. It lasts 126 min. and has been screened in Mexico and in France (with French subtitles). It's called "El Oficio del Arte" in Spanish; "Le Travaille d'Art" in French; and "The Work of Art in English. Color Correction and English subtitles were added in 2020 and has been entered successfully into film festivals.
Go to its website at theworkofArt-flim.com or ElOficioDelArte-film.com.
Produced and directed by Shelly Errington
Cinematography and editing by José Luis Reza.
In this documentary, we enter the intertwined worlds of extraordinary craft processes done by master artisans, their family lives, pricing and contests, and tourism in the communities around Lake Pátzcuaro in Michoacán, Mexico. The commentary is entirely in the words of the artisans; there is no voice-over.