Art Retreat With Rogene Manas

Announcing our dates for 2019!

March 22-31, 2019

Join artist  Rogene Manas (author of Artful Paper Clay) and cultural curator Jewel Murphy for 
10 Days/9 nights

of art making and touring and digging deep into the cultural riches of

 Oaxaca, the creative center of Mexico.
Cost is $2,195 and includes ALL instruction, lodging, meals, transportation and guides.
$395 additional for single supplement 

What makes this tour special?

• A small group of like minded creative people (max 10)

• A focus on art and art making in one of the culturally richest areas of Mexico

• An opportunity to study closely with Rogene Mañas and learn her mixed media techniques, 

• Private visits with sculptors, painters, and printmakers in their home studios 

• Spectacular meals at some of Oaxaca's best restaurants (no skimping here - we take food very seriously and want to make sure you experience everything from street food to homecooked comfort food to  four star dining)

Plus an unusual, inspiring, soulful, and art-filled home away from home  to make art, enjoy Oaxacan cooking, socialize, have fun, meet new friends and rejuvenate. 

The Itinerary -

Our days (unless otherwise noted) will be spent making art in the mornings and exploring the museums,stores, galleries, churches, restaurants and historic areas of Oaxaca in the afternoons and  evenings. Plus we'll visit with local folk artists, indigenous craftspeople, and contemporary artists. While  many of our evening meals will be at our bed and breakfast ,you always have the option to explore other dining scenes on your own. In addition, the light filled art studio will be open most hours for you to work outside class time. We intend this to be an inspiring, rejuvenating, soul nourishing exploration with a group of creatives. 

Friday March 22nd - Today we'll gather at our home away from home and get settled.  We'll arrange to pick you up at the airport and have a light meal for you upon arrival

Saturday March 23rd - Art making in the morning followed by a  homecooked meal at the Casa.  Afternoon outing to explore the town and visit  the Church of Soledad (the patron saint of Oaxaca),our two favorite artisan co-ops and enjoy a fabulous welcome meal and rooftop dining at one of Oaxaca's best restaurants.

Sunday March 24th - Art making in the morning followed by the best Sunday brunch in the City at one of Oaxaca's finest followed by visits to the world class Textile Museum and San Pablo Cultural Center and time in the wonderful zocalo. Dinner at the Casa

Monday March 25th - Morning art making and lunch at the Casa. Afternoon visits to the 20 November Market including stops at the chocolate grinders, the Hall of Smoke, the grasshopper vendors and more. This bustling city market is so alluring.  Find chilies, incense, pinata's, handicrafts, whatever your heart desires. Dinner at the Casa 

Tuesday March 26th - Morning art making followed by lunch with a local artist/activist at her hillside home in San Augustin Etla. She'll talk about art as an agent for social change and tell us about her many projects.  Afterwards we'll visit a local paper making micro enterprise and the San Agustin Cultural Center once home to a major textile mill. Dinner at the Casa.

Wednesday March 27th - Today we'll switch it up and leave in the morning for the hilltop village of Atzompa where we'll hike the ancient ruins and visit the charming community museum followed by a visit to the home of ceramic artist Angelica Vasquez. Part storyteller, part potter Angelica's demonstration is a kind of performance art. Then her children make us a meal showcasing some of the finest Oaxacan home cooking I have encountered.  Late afternoon and evening at the Casa. 

Thursday March 28 - Art making in the morning followed by lunch at the Casa and a lovely afternoon stroll into town. A visit to the Rufino Tamayo Museum, collective printmaking studios, and galleries -also may include day drinking and mezcal. Get a feel for the richness and diversity of art in Oaxaca.

Dinner is a 7 course tasting menu at NYT reviewed El Criollo.

Friday March 29th  -  A full day of folk art and  touring.  We'll start at  the indigenous market in Ocotlan and  taste prehispanic fermented drinks, have our fortunes told by a canary, peruse leather belts, wooden combs, machetes, horse saddles, and shop for the popular Mexican peasant blouses and maybe find the famous chile de agua.  On the way back visit makers of the  alebrijes, the mythical carved animals and stop in San Bartolo Coyotopec where we'll have a demonstration of making the black pottery the town is famous for. It's a chance to see a thousand year old craft in action. Dinner will be at the Casa.

Saturday March 30th - Our final day and you're free to explore on your own, go shopping or finish up your final art projects. And we can arrange a trip to Mt Alban, horseback riding in the country, a cooking class, a massage and temazcal, or whatever your heart desires. Then an early evening Fiesta at the Casa featuring live music in the gardens and outdoor dining.

Sunday March 31 - Time to pack your bags  and  bid farewell - If needed we'll arrange airport transport. 

About Rogene -

Rogene will be teaching her 3rd workshop in Oaxaca - These workshops are designed for people of all skill levels who want to work with mixed media. This year our art making will take inspiration from the colors, textures and paper mache making traditions of Oaxaca.  Our projects will include Saint Cards, Box Niches and Paper Clay Totems, combining collage, paper clay and painting techniques. On our last day together, we have a small exhibition of our work at the Casa.

Rogene has been making mixed media art full time since retiring from her international card company 10 years ago. Her new book, "Artful Paper Clay" is all about a process she developed in her never ending search to find fun and forgiving ways to make art.She has been teaching mixed media workshops in Oregon, Washington, California, and Mexico for the last 9 years. Here work has been greatly influenced by her love of the folk art of Latin America and from spending winters in Mexico. Visit her website www.rogene.manas.com for more 

About Me 

I first traveled to Mexico & Guatemala in 1979 on a wanderlust/walkabout during my college years. Since then I've concentrated my travels on the Yucatan Peninsula, Chiapas,  & Oaxaca and leading tours to Oaxaca since 2011.  I like gathering together and traveling with packs of inquisitive and engaged, creative people.  I like putting our tourist dollars directly into the hands of local people. I like taking it slow. And I like to eat good food. I like seeing what happens when people from different parts of the world encounter one another. I like building a bridge between my country and our neighbors to the south.  When I'm not otherwise obsessed with all things Mexico, I can be found watering plants, birdwatching, swimming and making art in Eugene, Oregon. 

Trip Details -

$2,195 includes pretty much everything (lodging, transportation, meals, guides, entrance fees, etc) Not included is airfare, personal shopping, alcohol, laundry, and tipping, which is totally optional but recommended. All deposits and payments are non refundable so we ask that you be committed to this trip.  Email me or use the contact form to the right of the blog for additional information about deposits and further details and questions you might have. jewel.murphy@gmail.com