About Us
Photo credit: Autumn Layne Stein
Alexander Fals and Hayley Dayis are a couple that work with foraged mineral pigments sourced from volcanic soils in the region of Cauca, Colombia. Both of them were born and raised in the upstate New York Finger Lakes Region, and discovered the art of foraged pigment painting at different points along their journeys.
About the Pigments
Political/Social Context of Painting with Colombian Earth
Colombia is one of the most biodiverse and culturally rich areas of the world. This land’s wealth of resources and beauty has made it a focal point for trade and admiration, in addition to exploitation for profit and devastating acts of violence that have repeatedly harmed and displaced the land’s inhabitants for decades.
As artists with United States citizenship living part of each year in Cauca, an area of Colombia that has suffered, and continues to suffer from, many crimes against humanity and land, we acknowledge that elements of our convenience-oriented American lifestyle is made possible by the exploitation of Colombia and its people. Therefore, we feel it is our responsibility in painting with the pigments of this land to honor and uplift the sacred beauty of Colombia while educating audiences in the US and the greater world about this land’s story.
We currently offer Foraged Pigment Art Workshops each summer/fall in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State (see “Upcoming Events”) which include a presentation on our pigment collection processes in Colombia, and information on how to respectfully forage for mineral pigments anywhere on the planet. We dream of designing a winter artist residency in Popayán, the capital of Cauca, that will offer both local Colombian artists and artists from around the world a platform to amplify their voices through artwork, engage in peaceful cultural exchange, and bring education and exposure to painting with pigments from this underrepresented and unique region of Colombia.
Pigment Information
The practice of foraged pigment painting dates back to prehistoric art, the proof of which has only been preserved in caves left undisturbed by humans or natural elements. As time has gone on, foraged mineral pigments have continued to be the basis of all painting practices all over the world. Before there were synthetic colors and dyes, all paints were made with mineral pigments collected by hand.Today, it is much less common for people to paint with hand foraged mineral pigments, but nonetheless it is still practiced in many parts of the world.
The predominant soil type in Cauca, the region of Colombia where we source the mineral pigments used in our work, is referred to as Andisol. Andisols are volcanic soils that form from volcanic ash and glass and other pyroclastic fragments (relates to fragments of rock erupted by a volcano). The texture of these soils is clay-like and highly porous, resulting in an accumulation of stable complexes of both organic and mineral materials. This contributes to the wide array of colors: black, rust orange, white, grey, lavender, maroon, light green, yellow, pink, and more.
Book a Private Workshop
We can come to you! Book a workshop for your private event or party. Learn how to forage pigments in your region, and get hands on experience making your own paints. Pigments and art supplies will be provided, and each person will go home with an original foraged pigment painting of their own creation.