More Than a Store: Somos Maiz
By Lorraine Jackson, Museum Store manager
The Museum Store at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts is growing and transforming, and at the heart of that change is a diverse and talented array of makers, artisans, craftsmen, and cultural connectors. As the UMFA collectively endeavors to decolonize the museum, we too are investing in community members that make beautiful and unique items that visitors love. As our community partner Ana Martinez put it so aptly, “I hope [visitors] recognize the direct links between ancient artistic practices (ceramics, weaving, etc.) and the contemporary culture.”
The Museum Store endeavors to help visitors bridge that gap by introducing the best artisans in our own community and around the world. It’s my privilege to highlight just a few of our latinx artisans for you here, who as Serafin Thaayrohyadi said in her poem No Estan Solos:
“Somos granos de maiz de una misma mazorca. Somos una sola raiz de un mismo camino.” “We are grains of corn from the same cob. We are one root of the same path.”
Maria Elena Lowe (Tzeltal, Mayan) is our local cultural connector to the absolutely stunning hand-woven textiles from Tzeltal weavers in Chiapas, Mexico. You can find her hand-selected wares throughout the store, from small, embroidered bags to wooly animal coin purses to the most elevated, bold, and luxurious woven textiles you’ll find in the United States. At all price points, Maria is supporting individual makers in the Tzeltal and Mayan communities and making rare and unique items available to Museum visitors. She also works with Mujeres de Maiz en Resistencia, an organization that has supported and protected Latina female artisans in Mexico and the US for 27 years.
Cacao Zoque (Zoque culture, Oaxaca and surrounding areas) is the closest you can come to taking the art home with you at the UMFA. The Lopez Aquino family is featured in our Central and South American art galleries as the living tradition that brings the UMFA’s ancient chocolate vessels to life. They have been making chocolate as a family for more than 100 years, and the Museum Store is proud to be the flagship brick-and-mortar location for Cacao Zoque. Most importantly, their traditional cinnamon sugar cacao is sensational, limited ingredient, and made with love. We’re also thrilled to announce that this month, we’re introducing Mint and Habanero to the flavor offerings!
We also recently initiated a new partnership with Tesoros Trading – a small company in Austin, Texas which works directly with artisans globally, creating a small and direct supply chain to our Museum Store. I chose Tesoros because their wares are culturally rich, handmade, and ethically sourced. In their words, “we strive to create working relationships that are ‘win-win’ for all involved. In our 25-year history, we have witnessed first-hand how our business has positively affected the lives of many.”
Much to the chagrin of major conglomerate gift shop retailers, our bottom-line goal is not just revenue. It is also to add meaning and beauty to the lives of visitors, artists, and the Museum’s collection. I am profoundly grateful for the human beings who not only make this mission possible, but also incredibly successful. Somos Maiz!