From Clay to Art
THE DESTINATION
Jequitinhonha gives name to a river and valley located in Minas Gerais, aggregating about 80 municipalities. A region where many cities bear names of precious stones, although one of the poorest regions in Brazil due to persistent droughts and few job opportunities. But Jequitinhonha has a treasure: the strength, perseverance, courage and creativity of its people. A place where art flourishes in embroidery, weaving, basketry, ceramics, painting and woodwork acknowledged for its quality and value.
THE EXPERIENCE
Why this trip? To meet people with a different way of life, exchange experiences, learn a craft, listen to stories and most importantly, share laughters and hope! Let’s get to know the communities of strong women in the Jequitinhonha Valley – a place where men spend most of their time away from home working in large cities while women are left with the costly and daily task of raising children, caring for the elderly, generating income through subsistence agriculture, and the art they create from clay. And there is more: recently they started to participate with enthusiasm in community tourism.
Itinerary
Day 1 | Meet with your Vivejar host in Belo Horizonte and depart to Diamantina, one of the main historical cities in Brazil and considered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Feel free to lunch where you please and take the opportunity to stroll through the streets of this city that takes you back to a colonial Brazil. Let’s check in at the hotel and spend the night as you wish. One overnight stay in Diamantina.
Day 2 | Breakfast and then we will leave for the community of Campo do Buriti in Tourmaline (approx. a 3 hour trip), where we will be welcomed by our ceramic master hosts. After a typical Minas Gerais lunch, we will do a trail (approx. 30 min.) to learn about the ways and procedures for extracting the clay that gives life to the art of the Valley. Time to meet the community leaders, while taking in the beautiful landscape of hinterland in Minas Gerais. In the evening, it’s time to exchange the first experiences sharing a delicious dinner. An overnight stay in Buriti.
Day 3 | Enjoy breakfast and now it’s time to get crafty! Local artisans will teach us how to prepare clay for modeling. We will learn how to knead and pinch the clay before mixing it with water and modeling it as the imagination allows. For lunch, we will leave for the community of Campo Alegre (approx. 20 min) – a village with more than 80 artisans – where we will visit a small community museum and the exhibition hall for the created pieces. We return to Buriti to stay the night.
Day 4 | Today we will learn the magic process of natural pigmentation to give more life to our clay pieces. In the afternoon, we will visit the association of artisans Coqueiro Campo in Buriti. And at night we will finally have one of the most special moments of the trip: the Burning Ceremony. Time to put together the created pieces to burn in the wood oven and celebrate! Listen to local music and have a delicious dinner with delicacies from Minas Gerais!
Day 5 | We will start the morning with a delicious breakfast at the home of one of the most renowned ceramic masters in the region: Zezinha. There, we will have a chat and visit her beautiful ceramic garden, which is an open air museum. Shortly after, still in the morning, we will put our hand to use by participating in a local sweets workshop. After lunch, it is time to say goodbye to Campo Buriti and our charming hostesses. We will take our created masterpieces with us as a reminder of the experience. Arrival in Diamantina, feel free to use the time as you please and then we stay the night.
Day 6 | After breakfast, transfer to Belo Horizonte (airport, hotel or the square Praça da Liberdade).
“From Clay to Art” is a tour that we offer to private groups. Do you want to know how we can attend the needs of your group or company? Click on the link below:
Email: [email protected]
Whatsapp: +55 (11) 98328-3034
Important Information
INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE
- Transfer to and from the final destination
- A vehicle exclusive to the group
- Vivejar Host
- 2 overnight stays in Diamantina at Pousada Pouso da Chica (Standard Room)
- 3 nights in Buriti in local family homes “Casas da Cerâmistas”
- Meals as mentioned: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Experiences, workshops and tours as described in the itinerary
- Travel insurance
NOT INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE
- Airline tickets
- Drinks
- Personal expenses
- Other meals and items not mentioned as included
RECEIVE A PROPOSAL
We are a social business that incentivizes responsible tourism, female empowerment and positive impact in the communities and destinations we visit.
