Heat and Hammer

We again visited the area's "copper town" Santa Clara del Cobre, this time during their 47th annual festival. The town was full of activity, not only a copper competition and associated vendors but also a car show on the main street. In true Mexico fashion, loud music blared from the rear ends of most cars on display which were backed right up to the street-side shops. Chaos is how we American's would describe it, though the longer we live here the more we accept this as the norm.

As before, we visited the museum. All the exhibits have been moved into the courtyard, so the many, many competition entries could be displayed. The craftsmanship was absolutely incredible! We didn't know copper could be worked so many ways in so many colors and shapes. My photos of the entries do not do them justice (they really must be viewed in person), so I once again turned to the demonstration area for my featured photograph. Today's team of hammerers was led by this man in yellow, who kept the seven members swinging their sledges at the heated copper blank striking it in the correct order. That is quite a feat considering the speed at which they all work, fast and furious until the copper cools and is returned to the fire.