Name: Art Retreat with Mija Matriz
Start: 2023-03-24T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2023-04-02T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Oaxaca City

Jewel Murphy

16 reviews

Mar 24 - Apr 2, 2023

Group size: 7 - 11

Art Retreat with Mija Matriz

Oaxaca City

Mar 24 - Apr 2, 2023

Group size: 7 - 11

Join cultural curator, Jewel Murphy and mixed media artist, Mija Matriz, for nine glorious days enjoying the magical city of Oaxaca with a group of like minded creatives. We'll immerse ourselves in the vibrant arts and culture of this diverse and ancient region of Mexico and use our time to create a beautiful travel journal. Mija will lead us with journal prompts, sketching warmups, printmaking techniques and more.

The first half of our trip we spend our days traveling to outlying villages to visit a curated selection of artisans, markets, churches and ruins. We’ll have lots of time for sketching, inspired by our surroundings and the people we meet. Evenings are family style dinners at the casa with optional studio time. The second half, our days are spent in the studio where Mija teaches us printmaking techniques and we continúe to refine our journals. Late afternoons we head into town and visit museums, private artist’s studios and printmaking collectives and follow that up with meals at some of Oaxaca’s most delicious restaurants.

We’ll be staying at the wonderful Casa Colonial, a classic hacienda near the center of town with lovely gardens, a fantastic art collection, serene library, beautiful dining room amazing staff and our own private light filled studio.

DEPOSITS & PAYMENTS

Your $500 deposit is non-refundable and holds your place. Final non-refundable payment is due 30 days before the start of the trip. Please be committed to this trip when you sign up. Failure to make your final payment in 30 days before the trip may forfeit your deposit and your place. We only offer refunds if the tour is cancelled because of government imposed restrictions and or lockdowns in which case there there will be a full refund. This is the rare exception to our no refund policy. We feel we have to offer this as planning travel under the pandemic brings uncertainties.

INSURANCE -

We recommend trip interruption insurance for your own peace of mind. Not all trip insurance is created equal. We have had good experiences with www.travelinsure.com

Some thoughts on the pandemic - The last thing I want is the gringa tourist bringing death and disease to vulnerable indigenous populations. We all know how that turned out in the past. All tour goers will need proof of current Covid vaccinations. I know there may be those who are unable to get vaccinated because of medical vulnerabilities and I am sorry but no exceptions.

Lodging
As always we stay at the fabulous Casa Colonial, home to folk art, a lush garden, an engaging library and possibly the kindest, most tender staff anywhere.
Meals
All your meals are covered in the tour. Food is important to us. It fuels our creativity. We explore everything from home cooking to four star restaurants.
Guides
We hire 100 percent born and raised in Oaxaca guides.
Transportation
You are responsible for transport to Oaxaca City Airport. Our driver will pick you up and return you to the airport.
Art Instruction
Mija brings her decades of experience and playful approach to art making as she leads us with daily prompts and projects. The class is suitable for all skill levels
Art Materials
Mija will bring a wide selection of art tools and materials to play with. Each participant will also be given a list of art supplies to bring.
More Good Things
We’ll send you a reading list, some inspiring art videos and our Oaxaca food and shopping guide. Plus everyone gets a handmade journal.

Airfare
You will be responsible to get yourselves to Oaxaca city. There are multiple daily flights from Mexico City. In the past Dallas (American), Houston (United) and LA (Volaris) have had direct flights.
Tips & Gratuities
Totally at your discretion
Alchohol
Laundry
Personal Shopping
Most people budget $500 to $2,000 or more. Oaxaca is full of beautiful rugs, contemporary clothing and artisan goods. There is a lot of temptation.
COVID testing
Should you need to get tested to return to the US, we will arrange testing at the hotel for about $45

Day 1
Day 1
Gathering
Today is a travel today and we’ll gather for a light meal in the evening and meet one another. We’ll set our intentions and share our dreams for the trip.
Read more
Day 2
Day 2
Exploring the City
Today, maps in hand, we explore the city and get our bearings. Take in all the city has to offer from colonial churches to cutting edge art galleries. We’ll end with dinner at one of Oaxaca’s best restaurants.
Read more
Day 3
Day 3
Market Day
Today we start at the amazing, bustling Sunday Tlacolula market, maybe the oldest farmers’s market in the Americas. People from all over the region come to eat, pray, shop and socialize. Then we head back in time and visit the Silver church considered a Baroque masterpiece from colonial times. Our day ends in antiquity at the ruins of Mitla where you’ll see architectural wonders unique to Mesoamérica. Ample time for sketching.
Read more
Day 4
Day 4
Ancient weaving towns
Today we visit Teotitlan de Valle, a town devoted to weaving beautiful wool rugs. Almost everyone here is involved in weaving!! We visit their town market and church and spend time with a family to learn the rug making process from beginning to end including a really magical demonstration of natural dyes. Prepare to try and figure out exactly how many rugs you can fit in your suitcase. Again, time for sketching.
Read more
Day 5
Day 5
Folk Art Day
We head to the Ocotlan valley and meet a family of backstrap loom weavers, painters and poets In their tidy and lush garden home. Then the delightful folk art church of Santa Ana Zegache and finally a visit to the famous town of woodcarvers and alebrije makers, San Martin Tilcajete, rounds out this inspiring day.
Read more
Day 6
Day 6
Making Art
Back at the Casa, art making begins in earnest at our private studio. We’ll use our field sketching and photos to inspire our printmaking images. We'll also make some fun, colorful background paper for printing on. Late afternoon stroll into town where we visit with graffiti and street artists in printmaking collectives. Dinner at our favorite hipster restaurant.
Read more
Day 7
Day 7
All about Art
Today we'll continue carving and printing images for our journals. Late afternoon we have a private tour of the Rufino Tamayo Museum of Prehispanic Art. Sadly, as of this writing, the museum is closed so we shall see. There will also be time for sketching, shopping and exploring. Mezcal tasting may be involved. Dinner in town.
Read more
Day 8
Day 8
Putting it all together
Today we finish our journals, adding our prints and embellishments. We'll also share extra prints with one another. Late afternoon we visit the world class textile museum and enjoy a rooftop dinner in town.
Read more
Day 9
Day 9
Party Day
Today is a free day to be on your own in town, take a cooking class, go horseback riding, do last minute shopping or keep making art. In the evening out on your party clothes and celebrate with an art show and garden party at the Casa
Read more

Day 1

Gathering

Today is a travel today and we’ll gather for a light meal in the evening and meet one another. We’ll set our intentions and share our dreams for the trip.

16 reviews

I’m an award winning floral designer and shopkeeper indulging my late in life wanderlust. Sharing Mexico with others is my love language. I believe in slow travel, cultivating authentic cross cultural experiences, reciprocity, eating well and having fun. With two decades of travel experience, I’ve carefully curated my tours to take you places you might otherwise never see and to visit people who are world class artisans and caretakers of their cultural heritage.

This was an amazing and transformative 70th birthday trip for me. We returned almost two weeks ago, but today I still feel the effects of our time together. We shared an immersive art experience woven together by the brilliance of Mija and Jewel. Seamlessly, we moved from the beautiful Oaxacan villages, to the urban gems of Oaxacan City where we tasted, touched and experienced the authentic culture of this beautiful region. We started as individuals seeking our own intentions for this adventure and by the end of our time together had formed into one collective bonded by beauty, art, food, culture and the spirit of the Oaxacan people. We clearly saw the magic of the area through the lens of Mija and Jewel who are deeply rooted in the landscape of this area and its people. In my opinion, the only way to begin to understand the culture and the arts of this region is to be guided by our dear cultural creatives that are seasoned devotees to this area. All of our guides and artists were local and authentic and shared not only their artistry but also a deeper sense of meaning. I feel grateful to have found this artventure when on a whim and in need of a change of perspective, I googled, “best art retreat in Mexico”. Google was right, it was the best art retreat I could have imagined. Thank you Mija, Jewel and wonderful Cohort. Ellen/ Portland, OR.

By Ellen H for Oaxaca Artventure with Mija Matriz on Apr 01, 2024

It was a great trip full of exploration and exposure to other cultures and experiences. Mija brings a caring attitude, joy & curiosity to the art experience and a sense of fun and adventure to the touring portion. Her intimate knowledge of Oaxaca deepened my appreciation for this magical place. I highly recommend!!

By Susan R for Oaxaca Artventure with Mija Matriz on Mar 22, 2024

The trip with Jewel and Mija was beyond what I had hoped for. It was intimate, well planned, easy, real, and so much fun. Because of Mija and Jewel's connections we met and experienced local artists, cooperatives, and community settings that we would not ordinarily have access to. On at least 4 mornings prior to breakfast local artisans came to the Casa where we stayed to display and sell their work. It was fun to meet them, learn about their craft and support their work. Everything was curated from a place of authenticity and with the goal of offering up real and heartfelt experiences. The schedule provided a good balance between studio time and out and about time, as well as some free time thoughtfully folded in. There is nothing that I would change about the trip. It was fabulous on many levels.

By barbara c for Oaxaca Artventure with Mija Matriz on Mar 20, 2024

Jewel and Mija made this the trip of a life time. Learning the life of the Oaxaca people and their culture. We visited areas that the average tourist probably wouldn't have seen. Being involved with the communities. Accomodations were good and the staff were lovely at Casa Colonial. Mija provided the enthusiasm and demonstration for all levels of art students. I felt like an artist when I departed! I look forward to my next trip back to Oaxaca.

By Karen O for Oaxaca Artventure with Mija Matriz on Mar 19, 2024

This was my first trip to Oaxaca and I am already planning a return. It was beyond words incredible. The other participants and our leaders made the trip so special and memorable. I enjoyed myself immensely. Personally, I struggle on trips when I am fully scheduled, so the first few days of going to multiple places on a timeline were a bit hard for me socially, emotionally, and mentally. However, given the distance we traveled I understand why it was arranged that way. I would pay more to have it more spread out and have half of the day out (ex. 9-1pm travel to 1-2 places)/ half day in studio (2-6pm studio time). I loved all of the places we went so I cannot say leave some of them out! The trip was so perfectly curated and the artisans were SO amazing. I loved how well taken care of I felt, from the delicious meals, to the massage at the casa, to the check-ins from Jewel/ Mija, and the amazing studio space/ supplies/ instruction. Accommodations-10/10. Meals at the Casa 10/10 Meals as a group out 5/10 Transportation 9/10 Jewel and Mija 11/10 Jane, Amado, Luz, and All Staff 11/10