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- Jesus Rivas
Jesus Rivas
"I was born in Peru's northern province of Piura. I'm a hardworking man, responsible and innovative. I'm always looking for new ways to give free rein to my imagination so I can apply these ideas in my art. <br><br>
"From childhood on, I was always involved in any kind of artistic activity in school, such as dance and theater, I even formed a group we called the 'Laughter Squad' with friends who enjoyed stand-up comedy. We were famous in our village and we were even on a local TV channel. I was really young and I didn't have the slightest idea of what I'd do with my life. I just had fun making people laugh. <br><br>
"When I was 17, a friend of mine worked in a Chulucanas ceramic workshop. I'd go there with him and help out for a few coins. I'd burnish the unfired pieces. I was only 16. I was young but I was very active and nothing stopped me. I've always worked. <br><br>
"When I first began working, I always wanted a project of my own, to be my own boss. For a few years, I worked in a small grocery store but it definitely wasn't mine. However, it offered the opportunity to save some money and work toward achieving my dreams although, at the time, I wanted to become a police officer. I worked very hard to make as much money as possible. <br><br>
"Then one day in 1991, I met a beautiful woman and fell in love with her. We married in 1992 and now have three children. <br><br>
"When I found out I was going to be a father, things took a 360 degree turn. My ideas weren't clear yet but I knew that, as a father, I'd need to think more carefully. I knew I'd need to work soon at something of my own to provide well for my family. <br><br>
"I remembered all the courses I took to learn ceramics. I understood a part of the process but not all of it. I consulted some artisans I knew but they didn't want to share their knowledge with me. I began researching and investigating on my own and am self taught in every sense of the word. I learned, I worked and saved money until I was able to craft my own tools. <br><br>
"At first, my vases and sculptures didn't come out the way I'd hoped. I practiced a lot. I got clay and, with some simple tools and a blade, I began shaping some small samples. My wife polished the pieces to a sheen and made them look spectacular. I could see she always wanted to help me. She's my motivation to continue with this art I love. So I persevered and finished preparing a small lot of vases to show and sell in the neighborhood. This is how I got my start in this magical world of handicrafts and what could be better than to represent my home town, Chulucanas? <br><br>
"Chulucanas, also known as Peru's Lemon Capital, is famous for its ceramics. It is located in the Department of Piura. <br><br>
"Our ceramics have deep cultural roots that derive from the pre-Hispanic Tallan and Vicus cultures that arose in northern Peru around 500 A.D. The Vicus culture developed only a few miles from the city of Chulucanas. <br><br>
"Some years ago, I went to a craft fair in Lima to show and sell my ceramics. I was staying in a hotel there when I had an accident. I slipped and fell in a bad position but I felt okay. A year later, I began feeling pain in my hips and couldn't even stand up. I saw a number of doctors and they told me the fall had cracked part of the bone and this resulted in complications. It was a really hard fall and I needed physical therapy and walked with great difficulty. Even so, I never stopped crafting my ceramics with the help of my wife and family. <br><br>
"My family remains my greatest inspiration and we are growing together, facing new challenges with every obstacle along the way. I find motivation in my wife's strength, her energy. They are contagious. I'm also motivated by our wonderful son and two beautiful daughters who have made me their father. I live with gratitude to life and to God. <br><br>
"One of my dreams is to expand my workshop and be able to export my ceramics. I want to have the capacity to continue innovating and to share all of this with my family. Together, we can represent Peruvian art to the world."
