The Team

Salime Harp Cruces
Is an Industrial Engineer with professional training in a wide range of glass manufacturing techniques gained through her time in ¨Urban Glass¨ in New York, USA. Salime Harp is from Oaxaca, Mexico.

Christian Thornton
Is a glass artist and has exhibited internationally. Christian has more than 20 years of experience working with glass and his advanced technical skills include building ovens and equipment with designs that are sustainable and environmentally friendly. Through his work he has developed a formula for producing high quality recycled glass. Christain has also developed a recycling glass project in Maho Bay, St. John, US Virgin Islands. Christian Thornton is from New York, USA.

Leobardo López Ramos
Artisan, Telixtlahuaca, Oaxaca, Mexico. Leobardo, has shown a great natural talent for the medium. Coming from a background of construction he is the perfect example of what can be achieved by the program.

Arturo López Hernández
Artisan, Telixtlahuaca, Oaxaca, Mexico.

Pablo Cruz Juárez
Artisan, Telixtlahuaca, Oaxaca, Mexico.

To date, 19 Oaxaqueños from two of the indigenous groups with highest levels of marginalization in the state, the Mixtecs and the Mixes, have worked or are working at the studio, learning how to operate different equipment and tools as well as different techniques in blowing, casting and fusing glass. The studios versatility offers the community at large the opportunity to learn more about the potential of glass whilst helping the apprentices see glass as more than just a product.

The staff are trained to use our computer controlled ovens and through the professional and technical advice of the glass artist Christian Thornton they are also trained in glass blowing and fusing.