Cristóbal Ramírez has peered into the darkness and walked away with light. His early life was shaped by profound trauma, not only because of the civil war that raged across Guatemala, but also in intimate, personal ways. His mother was a casualty of that war, and Cristóbal was sexually assaulted by the time he was 11 years-old.
And yet, he has found a way to channel that pain into something exceptional and inspiring.
When asked what sustains him, he does not hesitate. “What moves me and motivates me to keep going until I achieve my vision, is something that comes from inside me,” he replies. “It is love.”
We see it in the elegant bracelets he crafts from handmade glass and colorful beads. We find it in the patterns and hues that conjure the crashing waves of Lake Atitlan, where he grew up. Behind the detailed craftsmanship of his jewelry is an homage to his mother, who stared down intense poverty to raise her four children, and to his wife, his rock.
He says: “I remember a period in my past when I had financial problems and my business went bankrupt. My wife, Bertha, was the only person who raised my spirits. She was always by my side and she was even willing to sell her personal belongings to support me. She has taught me the real meaning of love — to be willing to give yourself to the other, seek the well-being of the other and feel the happiness of being loved.”
In honor of these incredible female forces, Cristóbal opens the doors of his workshop to other women who want to support their families. He hires employees with disabilities to ensure that vulnerable populations have a fair shot at earning a livable wage.
This Valentine’s Day, we celebrate love in all its forms, and the incredible way in which art helps us to transcend sorrow, brutality, and the pain of everyday life. |
