Lizard Talk – Porfirio Gutiérrez

About once a month, our high school students attend a Lizard Talk, where a guest speaker presents and shares knowledge on their subject of expertise. The talks vary from topics like death & dying to fine art.

This November 2022, Porfirio Gutiérrez presented his life’s work of revitalizing and preserving traditional Zapotec natural dye techniques with a focus on reinterpreting traditional textiles and materials.

More on Gutiérrez …

“Porfirio Gutiérrez is a California-based textile designer, artist, and natural dyer. He advocates specializing in the weaving traditions of Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca, Mexico. He comes from a long line of traditional Zapotec weavers, and his art practice remains dedicated to the deep knowledge and spiritual dimensions of his ancestors. He grew up immersed in color, surrounded by the wildness of Oaxaca’s mountains, and with knowledge of plants as medicine. His work intersects with indigenous knowledge and contemporary art, engaging a conversation around migration in a Native American context.”

His work with creating dyes from plants and insects is helping keep Mexico’s indigenous Zapotec weaving culture alive. Below are some photos of his work and the Lizard Talk that he gave to the students.