Samuel Bautista Lazo is one of the smartest, joyous, and Zen-like people I know.
Sam is my young, previously mentioned, Zapotec friend who is getting his Ph.D. in Sustainable Manufacturing at the University of Liverpool. Sam is from Teotitlán del Valle in Oaxaca, a village watched over by El Picacho, the sacred mountain — whose presence is unmistakable and palpable.
The village is known for its traditional performances of the Danza de la Pluma (about which I’ve posted on numerous occasions) and their skillful and creative weavings with wool. Like a majority of its Zapotec residents, Sam and his family weave — father, Mario Bautista Martínez; mother, Leonor Lazo González; and brother, Celestino Bautista Lazo.
The family was featured last year in an article, The Crafts of Oaxaca, posted on the Lark Crafts website. Like many others, on my first visit in 2007, I couldn’t resist buying a couple of tapetes (rugs), including this one, which now serves as a welcome to all who enter my little casita.
A friend and I returned six months later and had the privilege of climbing to the top of El Picacho with Sam.
And no, I did not join Sam in leaping from one rocky peak to the other!
Looking forward to your return, Sam!
(ps) Here is a Dixza video of Sam from 2008, where he discusses the interpretation of the symbols and patterns woven into Zapotec rugs. You might also want to check out others in his Dixza series from Teotitlán del Valle.
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View From Casita Colibrí 
Shannon you are just too cool!
I would love to meet Sam and his
Famila! I wish I could apprentice with
his family and learn to weave-:)
Hola Shannon!!
Thanks for the article 🙂 As you can see, I’m still the same, I like climbing rocks and meditating inside caves… maybe some day I’ll live inside one and become an enlightened Zapotec 😉
Here is the link to the video where I talk about the meaning of the patterns and symbols on the rugs: http://youtu.be/cyazNPTwrmc
How was your trip to Teotitlan? I’m looking forward to your future articles, they keep me connected with Oaxaca.
Great Article,
Just yesterday I was telling my English students all about my adventures in Oaxaca. Visiting Samuel and his family was the highlight of my trip.
I was able to see how his family made the rugs, and I could also appreciate the use of natural dyes, all of which were grown and collecter right there in his home.
I left with a marvelous rug about 5´ X 3´ With vivid blue, yellow, and orange coloring with the traditional design of the Shaman´s journey. It´s one of my most treasured possesions. I like to sit upon my rug and meditate.
And I´ll never forget the night of the festival in Sam´s hometown.
WADE
Just wanted to let you know I do enjoy all your posts about Oaxaca. I haven’t been there but my daughter and family lived there while she was doing research for her doctorate. Many thanks and keep up t he good work.
[…] (though he’s young) friend, Samuel Bautista Lazo, from Teotitlán del Valle. As I’ve mentioned before, I met Sam and his family during my first visit to Oaxaca in 2007 and (of course) bought two […]