Bertha Cruz Morales

In this photograph, taken January 2015, Bertha Cruz Morales is pregnant with her second child. Her first child can be seen in another photograph on the wall above two crucifixes and next to a large key. The beauty of many artisans is that their life is worn on their sleeves. Or, rather on the walls of their homes for all to see. Here Bertha is somewhat tired, in a world of preparing a carving for painting but more likely thinking of her child yet to be born. While the camera is organised and as time passes the camera is forgotten. 

Here Bertha can be seen working in an outdoor studio. Opposite, is a courtyard wall flushed with light coming in from the street. It too is covered in symbols of her life and that of her husband whose carvings she paints. Bertha is one of a small band of painters that are original  and whose painting can be seen as an additional layer of expression laid upon the carving. This layer is separate from the carvings but the carving wears it as its own set of markings, like an aboriginal wears their body markings for life. And, similar to the decoration of Zapotec buildings, their walls with messages from the people that built them - as if the walls are built out of messages rather than stone and which, is like wearing your life on your sleeve.