Guadalupe (Lupita) Lazo Hernandez

Lupita, a soft-spoken woman in her early thirties, is fighting hard to give her three sons a chance at a life she never had: one of education and professional possibilities outside the village. Widowed last year, she is raising her three sons – Daniel, Cristobal and Hugo – to be polite and hard-working young men, and making sure they keep focused on their studies.

Her oldest son, Hugo, is studying music and the next, Daniel, is studying botany. Youngest son Cristobal still doesn’t know what direction his interests will take. The important thing, says Lupita, is that they focus on their schooling and pursue professions in which they can comfortably support themselves and their future families.

Lupita is a student and artist of color, and her subtle combinations make every woven object – from small purses to large rugs – a feast for the eye. Her beautiful all-natural dyes include rust brown made from pecan shells, the bright yellows and oranges of marigold petals, and a brilliant turquoise green made from basil leaves.

She learned to weave at age 13 from her father, who was also a weaver. “My mother died when I was just eight,” says Lupita. “She was a strong woman who loved strong colors, and the colors that I use now remind me of her.”