Recycled Paper Workshop "Leñateros"
Country: Mexico.

Leñateros is a cultural society, an alliance of women and men (Mayan and mestizo), founded in 1975 by the Mexican poet Ambar Past.

The workshop Leñateros has created a multi-ethnic space of artists and, artists in formation. They foment the artistic creativity among the excluded sectors. The Leñateros invent, they teach and they exercise the occupations of making of handmade paper, bookbinding, printing, engraving in wood and coloring with plants. They intend to favor the ecology, recycling agricultural and industrial waste to create craft, works of art. Leñateros subsists thanks to the sale of books, post cards, t-shirts, and posters.

The visitor besides from being able to visit the workshop of paper and printing has to visit the store of the workshop and to take a piece of art. One is surrounded by a variety of colors, textures and forms captured in paper and their products. (notebooks, books, magazines, envelopes, postcards, posters, etc.)

Leñateros also offers courses and workshops to learn the techniques they use in their daily activities. One can register to learn: impression on paper, handmade paper, natural paints of the Mayas, bookbinding, carpentry, engravings, and even tzotzil as a second language. For this workshops contact Leñateros in advance. The prices of the courses are very accessible.

Ecoturimolatino's Opinion

We knew the workshop of Leñateros before visiting it, we had seen their creations in different parts of Mexico and it turned into an obligation to visit the workshop and its members. When one visits San Cristóbal it is imperative to visit the workshop and better still to take a course that only takes a couple of hours and others even one week.

How to get there?

Calle Flavio A.Paniagua 54, San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas. Tel./Fax: (9) 6785174 E-mail conjuros@sancristobal.com.mx