Discovering Creativity through Stone Carving in Zacualpan, Mexico

For many, travel is about discovery—not just of new places, but of new ways of seeing and being. A VAWAA apprenticeship is an invitation to step inside an artist’s world, to learn directly from their creative process, and to immerse oneself in a place through making. Anthony Mallier recently embarked on such a journey to Zacualpan de Amilpas, Mexico, where he spent a week carving stone alongside prolific Mexican sculptor and VAWAA artist Julio to experience the rhythms of his artistic life. 

Below, Anthony reflects on the experience and how it reshaped his understanding of creativity.

-----By Anthony Mallier-----

It's been a few months since my VAWAA to Zacualpan de Amilpas, a charming town two hours south of Mexico City; yet the memories remain vivid, the reverberations of which are still unfolding - it's an experience I know I'll revisit throughout my life and knew I’d have to put down in writing!

Typically, my travel style leans towards unstructured exploration – savoring local cuisine, losing myself in museums, stumbling upon hidden landmarks, and simply absorbing the local essence by exploring on bike or foot. However, this journey offered a different kind of immersion, working collaboratively with an artist at their outdoor studio, surrounded by sculptures, shaded by the trees of a forest garden and embodying the creative process, carving stone using my intuition in order to bring a work of art to life. 

Admittedly, I felt apprehensive at first, I had so many questions - What would the dynamic with the artist be like? How would we bridge the language barrier? Would I be able to craft an art piece in just a week? Doubts swirled, but I decided to acknowledge and embrace my apprehension, curiosity ultimately won and I decided to jump head first into this adventure!

And what an adventure it was! As if I was the main character in a Netflix documentary, I found myself immersed in the world of prolific Mexican sculptor Julio and culinary artist Paola that they had created for themselves. The land around their home was a living museum, a vibrant forest garden bursting with plants Julio and Paola have collected from their travels across Central America. Julio had an infectious enthusiasm for geology, plants, and food, revealing the origins of Mexican cuisine, culture, and the very earth beneath our feet. Its evidence is present in his sculptures that are formed by the intersection of these lifelong passions.

Paola, our gracious host, elevated the experience with her warm hospitality. Her meals and beverages were often crafted in stone ovens and infusers made by Julio and were lovingly crafted from locally sourced, non-commercially produced ingredients I'd never encountered before, beautifully presented on basalt stone platters crafted by Julio, like culinary masterpieces.

My week was punctuated by leisurely walks down to the river and the vibrant Sunday Plaza market. I must have been the only traveller at the Plaza, peering through a window into the typical rhythm of life in Zacualpan de Amilpas.

Julio's gallery in Mexico City, about two hours north of his studio in Zacualpan de Amilpas.

The table laid with basalt stone platters and some of Paola's wholesome food.

Crafting an Heirloom 'Molcajete'

Taking inspiration from the pieces I observed on my visit to the museum of Anthropology, I arrived with some preconceived notions of the sculpture I intended to make, but the artistry of Julio’s sculptures and the elegant functionality of the ovens and coffee machines he crafted inspired the designer in me as I was drawn to the marriage of form and function. The inspiration of Julio’s art led me to decide on crafting a molcajete, an essential Mexican mortar and pestle that was used in pre-columbian times and continues to be present in every Mexican kitchen today - a simple implement of daily life.

Anthony's initial sketches and diagrams of the 'molcajete'.

During my time at his workshop, Julio proved to be the ideal guide. With thoughtful patience, he led me through the intricate process of carving stone. Julio’s approach, a true embrace of the artistic approach, was a departure from the analytical approach of a designer. I broke free from my default patterns of resolving aspects of the design and surrendered to the creative flow.

From selecting a block of local basalt, to splitting and coring, and carving away at the stone, the form of the molcajete unfolded organically, decisions made in the moment were guided by instinct and intuition. Julio gently offered reassurance, even when I made eventual mistakes. It was in those "mistakes," those unexpected deviations, that the true magic in the process emerged and rendered the molcajete with a unique dynamism, these mistakes became features of the molcajete bearing the mark of the creative process. Giving care to each detail and thinking through its eventual use, yielded opportunities along the way and the integration of all the elements rendered the piece with a lifelike quality as it began to emerge and refine almost by magic!

My days were a symphony of stone and carving tools, leaving me dusted with powdered stone from head to toe as I rested each night. The weariness was welcome, a testament to the fulfillment between my hands, mind and stone. With each passing day, a sense of anticipation for the next day's artistic possibilities grew and culminated in this new family heirloom that now sits in my living room. If you can’t already tell, this VAWAA experience was a gentle yet profound awakening, a nudge towards seeking a path of creativity.

Anthony diving into the creative process over 7 days under the guidance of master sculptor, Julio, learning how to craft a molcajete. 

Written by Anthony Mallier

Learn about Julio and his mini-apprenticeship here.

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