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Cerapio Vallejo

"My art form was handed down to me from my parents and grandparents. But the quality of my work is the result of my long experience and the product of my careful observation over the years. I draw inspiration from our ancient Peruvian cultures, Andean village life, and from our snow-capped mountains.

"I have faced many challenges during my life, and I have learned from them. Perhaps the most difficult was when I was obliged to leave my house in Ayacucho with my family and immigrate to the capital city. I had to make this painful decision because there was no other way. This was during the 1980s, when terrorism was bleeding my people to death and there seemed little hope.

"Artisans in my region were considerably affected when tourism halted. Even now that Ayacucho is at peace, we remain in Lima; we created a new life here, and are thankful that Ayacucho is flourishing and we can visit it.

"Our sales have expanded greatly since we began working with Novica and I have been able to support some of my compatriots by offering them a job. Other artisans who used to help me but had to stop working for lack of sales are now able to return to my workshop – thankfully abandoning occupations that did not stimulate their creativity or interests.

"In the future, I hope to have a bigger and better-equipped workshop. But my greatest goal is to continue to educate and guide my children towards fulfillment, knowing that a good destiny must await them. I have three children; for me they represent the continuation of life – and hopefully of art, too."