San Agustín Etla

San Agustín Etla is home to a former textile factory that has been restored and made into an art center called the CASA (Centro de Artes, San Agustín).  The famous Mexican artist, Francisco Toledo, participated in the re-design of this center. The Alfredo Harp Helú Foundation also provided support for the restoration.

Former textile factory, El CASA art center. (S. Wood, 2008)

This community has an abundance of natural springs and a delightful climate.  Surrounding the art center you will find several interesting water features.

Cochineal dyed stair-step fountain, El CASA (S. Wood, 2008)

Reflection pool, El CASA (S. Wood, 2008)

NEH Summer Scholars of 2014, sitting on steps at El CASA that were designed by Francisco Toledo.

NEH Summer Scholars of 2014, sitting on steps at El CASA that were designed by Francisco Toledo.

In 2008, the CASA was host to a large textile exhibition that included many hand-made indigenous women’s blouses (huipiles in Spanish, from the Nahuatl term huipilli).

Huipil from the collection of Alejandro de Avila (S. Wood, 2008)

In 2011 we got to visit an exhibition by Jan Hendrix with a botanical art theme at the CASA.

Below the CASA we also hope to visit the hand-made paper factory, where water is so necessary to the process.

A tub with paper pulp (S. Wood, 2008)

 

Embedding design elements in the paper (S. Wood, 2008)

Spray-painted handmade papers made at the paper factory in Etla (S. Wood, 2008)

Colorful handmade papers for sale in the tienda near the paper factory, Etla. (S. Wood, 2011)