IN SITU BELIEVES IN
::: SUPPORTING ARTISANS DIRECTLY :::
::: just pay for creatives :::
::: inclusivity + reciprocity :::
::: FAIR PRICES :::
::: elevating indigenous voices :::
::: protecting ancestral knowledge :::
::: fighting plagiarism :::
::: ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE :::
::: intersectionality :::
::: collaboration + COLLECTIVE HEART :::

la historia: IN SITU houses individual artisans as well as collectives of artisans who specialize in artesanal textiles and ceramics from Mexico. this platform was born from seeing how the initial shock of the covid-19 pandemic drastically affected tourism and the economy. communities of artisans suddenly had no one to sell their work to, their work at times being one of their only sources of income. Generally, agriculture is another source of income, so families tend to separate, while members of their families tend to their children or other matters in communities located hours away (many travel hours each day or spend long periods of time away from their communities in order to sell their work which may have taken weeks/months/sometimes years to make).

since 2020, IN SITU has been connecting and working with individual artisans and artisan collectives in Chiapas, Oaxaca, Edo. de méxico, Jalisco, and Chihuahua, and has offered an online platform for artisans to sell their work in order to

1. economically survive the pandemic by selling online and to a wider audience
2. be self-sustaining, cultivate or maintain autonomy
3. feel visible, have a voice, and tell their own stories, in their words, whatever they want to share with us
4. educate us about the work they do.

it took time to figure out how to initiate a conversation with the artisan(s) and how to express my intent with this collective, re-defining what it means to “help”, as that is a loaded term and concept that is colonial, invasive, destructive, and exploitative, so i applied and continue to practice a system of reciprocity with the artisans that has proven to work. Almost every artisan from 2020-2021 were able to sell and make some money directly, though since the end of 2021 while tourism became a bit more flexible (to the detriment of families and communities of artisans since tourists were only causing covid to spread) and mercados re-opened, some artisans have been able to continue selling in person again so this platform no longer makes sense for them. among them are taller corazon magico, mujeres sembrando la vida, maestra marisol agustín, colectivo valle de chalco, maria concepcion, y salsas la tapatia. i thank them for trusting and sharing.

INSTAGRAM ::: @colectivo.in.situ