Join renown sculptor Alberto Bustos traveling from his native Spain for a week long ceramic intensive in beautiful San Miguel de Allende. Alberto will guide you to “improvisation and freedom” with clay! Please follow the link below to know the full program.
Location
San Miguel de Allende, located in central Mexico is a Heritage UNESCO puebla magica, not to mention voted one of the best places in the world to live according to Conde Nast Traveler two years in a row. Resident, Linda Laino will be assisting Alberto with the retreat. Come and be captivated by the friendliness and beauty of this town!
More about San Miguel below.
Venue
We are sure you will be delighted with the accommodations and facilities! Hacienda de las Flores is a family owned, old-world style hotel in the heart of centro making it a super convenient and easy home base from which to explore San Miguel.
About Alberto Bustos
Alberto Bustos, from Vallodalid, Spain has been producing, exhibiting and teaching ceramics around the world for more than 30 years and and holds an “honorable master” distinction from China. As a self-taught artist, he is passionate about his work and the meaning it gives to his life. As a sculptor, he is a fervent believer, practitioner and defender of ceramics as a high art. At the heart of his teaching practice is to convince students of the same. Please visit Alberto’s Instagram page to know more!
Travel
Please make your reservations* to arrive at Leon (BJX) or Queretaro (QRO) airports. Please note, if you decide to fly into Mexico City, it is another four hours to San Miguel and shuttle is not included.
*Note: Please wait to make your flight arrangements until we inform you the retreat is full.
Please click here for pricing, registration and program information.
About San Miguel
Mexico is a huge country that offers its visitors an amazing amount of diversity. San Miguel de Allende is located in the geographical center of the country and is said to be built upon a bed of crystal quartz. Many people believe this legend aids in the “magical” quality so often associated with this town. San Miguel is a peaceful, safe environment, full of friendly people, sophistication and charm to spare. It is small, but far from sleepy. The streets are always full of visitors and locals in a lively and festive atmosphere.
There is more than plenty to see and do on off hours during the retreat. Most days you can count on very cool mornings, warm to hot sunny afternoons, and slightly cooler evenings. Think layers and bring a light sweater. There is virtually no humidity. San Miguel is quite hilly in parts, and the streets are cobbled. You will most likely be doing a lot of walking (the best way to see the town!), so we suggest to bring good shoes.
We are at 6000 feet and if you have not been in high altitudes, you may feel a bit tired the first day or two. Luckily, there are numerous cafes, parks and plazas for rest and refreshments all over town. There are also ample and inexpensive cabs (and Uber) available should you need a break from the walking. The cab drivers, incidentally are some of the best locals to practice your Spanish with!
The web is full of articles and videos about San Miguel. Here are two to whet your whistle:
About Linda Laino
Linda is a visual artist and writer who received her MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va. She has lived in San Miguel de Allende for twelve years where she formally taught English Language Arts and continues to paint and write. She has organized writing and painting retreats of her own in San Miguel and is sharing her love and knowledge of this charming and colorful town with other artists and teachers. She has been a waitress, a textile conservator, teacher and flower farmer, all in service to a lifetime of art making. Her painting and writing can be accessed here: www.lindalaino.com
Cancellation Policy Please Read
All deposits and balances for workshops are non-refundable. We understand that it is sometimes difficult to plan ahead for a trip such as this and these uncertain times have created a bit more challenge. We thank you for your understanding of the need for these policies on our end. We ask that retreat participants be vaccinated. Note: Mexico never closed its borders to travelers during 2020.
Please read our full cancellation policy here.
All participants will be asked to download and sign the waiver form and provide emergency contact info. Please email to lalainoart@yahoo.com
Linda will provide all participants with an SMA Survival Guide listing restaurants, things to do on off hours, and useful phone numbers.
We look forward to welcoming you to San Miguel in November, 2025! Please do not hesitate to contact us. For questions about the workshop, please contact Alberto at
info@albertobustos.es For questions about San Miguel, contact Linda at lalainoart@yahoo.com