Faustino Álvarez Álvarez

Faustino Álvarez Álvarez

artisans,asturiasmap

1955 / 70 years old

iain

Asturian,Spanish

Artisan

673

current,43.2852,-5.9837;

Spain

Faustino Álvarez Álvarez

TEXT

Faustino Álvarez Álvarez, is a rural dweller who dedicated himself to the construction of stone walls, especially in villages and along roadsides. When he was a child, he learned to make baskets with the older adults in his village, but he never dedicated himself to being a basket maker or to making a living from the craft, since he had another job and his responsibility in the fields of his home. However, when he turned 65 years old, he retired and in the free time that his retirement offered him, he decided to take up traditional basket weaving and some carpentry work. She began to make all kinds of baskets (some of them highly complex) and other products that can be made with the same weaving technique with natural fibers, such as lampshades, napkin holders, home decorations, etc. Although Faustino is a skilled artisan with a remarkable talent for traditional basketry, he has never sold his pieces (he gives them as gifts to family or friends), he has not had the intention of making a business or giving basketry classes.

LAPONTE_PR_10

1617

Spanish phone code: 34 / 682 01 14 91

other (specify),other (specify)

Faustino learned to make baskets when he was a child, around 7 years old. In the village where he lived, he would approach the elders who made baskets, and they taught him.

No, the artisan has never taught classes nor had apprentices. He mentions that this is because he did not make basketry his profession; he did not dedicate himself fully to it. Throughout his life, he had other jobs and worked mainly in the construction sector (building roads and walls).

Sofía Gonzalez Sandoval

male

incomer

According to the artisan, basketry is an activity accessible to everyone since it is very affordalbe, easy to learn, and useful for many aspects of daily life; all that is needed are one’s hands and patience to learn. This is why basketry is "one of the oldest crafts in history and found all over the world". An important requirement, according to the artisan, is to be careful and responsible with the environment when obtaining raw materials. Natural cycles must be respected so that the different types of plants can regenerate.

Currently the artisan Faustino lives in the village of Lavares in the council of Santo Adriano. He was not born in that village but moved there 5 years ago when he started his retirement.

He uses natural plants to obtain the rods for making the baskets. Mainly “San juaninos” a plant that is very easy to find in Asturias (Ligustrum vulgare), and wicker/willow (Salix viminalis).

hobby

These plants are very abundant in the local area (municipality of Santo Adriano, Asturias), and thanks to their abundance, Faustino is able to source all his raw materials locally. The willow for example grows on the banks of rivers, in this case the Trubia river in Santo Adriano.

During the basket-making process, there is no waste or pollution for the following reasons: - It is a very small-scale production, so raw materials are obtained in a controlled and responsible manner. - The production of baskets does not involve the use of any chemicals or artificial elements. It is 100% organic. - Leftover branches and leaves are used as compost for the artisan's agricultural activities and as firewood to heat his house in winter.

The artisan did not mention a specific name for his weaving techniques. He talks more about the series of steps that each level of difficulty involves, but did not give a specific name.

He mainly uses his hands, a penknife, a pair of garden shears to cut branches, and a pair of wooden tweezers that he made himself to clean the sticks (he removes the leaves from the sticks and the first layer of bark to give the wood a different color).

For him, it is very important to be in good health so that he can continue to use his hands. During the workshop, Faustino mentioned that sometimes his hands fail him (he feels pain and numbness) and he loses some mobility as a result. According to him, this is due to his age (70 years old), something that cannot be helped since “there is no cure for aging”, as he says. For an artisan, their hands are their most essential tools, and in the case of older artisans, declining health is an important factor to consider in terms of their motivation/energy to work. In addition, depending on their own bodies to be able to do their job is something that has an emotional impact on artisans as time passes and their bodies change.

None.

The only leftovers are branches and leaves. Faustino uses the leaves for compost in his garden and then dries the branches to use them in winter to heat his house (they are burned in the fireplace).

No. The artisan works at home, and mentions that he would not like to work in a workshop, with a group of people, or anywhere else because he likes the silence and peace he has at home. He also mentioned that basket weaving does not require equipment or a workshop. He simply sits on a log that he uses as a stool and begins to weave.

He mainly makes baskets of different sizes and designs, but he has also made lampshades, containers, napkin holders, fruit bowls, and home decorations. He also enjoys experimenting with carpentry, making simple furniture (chairs, benches, etc.) and wooden utensils (cooking spatulas, wooden spoons, etc.).

Faustino currently dedicates himself to basket weaving as a hobby, since he recently retired and is looking for a productive way to use his time. Everything he produces is done out of love for the craft and with the intention of keeping the knowledge alive. He has never sold his pieces, but instead gives them as gifts to family and close friends.

His products are not for sale.

None.

No.

N/A.

None.

No.

Quote: "Nunca pensé en involucrarme en el turismo... nunca pensé en dedicarme a la cestería, Surgió solo así."

No.

According to Faustino, there are no significant obstacles to basket weaving, as the material is abundant, easy to find (there are alternatives with different plant species), and therefore inexpensive. Nor is it necessary to have a studio or equipped workshop, and it is not necessary to buy many tools. The few tools he has are also affordable. During the basketry workshop, Faustino mentioned that the biggest challenge for craftsmanship in rural areas is the transmission of knowledge: in Spain, it is difficult to find apprentices or young people interested in learning craft skills, especially due to depopulation and abandonment of rural areas.

"No, la cestería no te da problema ninguno. No contaminas nada y no necesitas cortar árboles ni nada de eso. Puedes tejer donde quieras y no necesitas herramientas o muchas cosas."