Glass Engraving in San Miguel de Allende: This Glassware is Making a Beautiful Difference

How do you go from here...

...to here?

A move by Charlie Hall to San Miguel de Allende, coupled with a family's appreciation of Mexican folk art, plus a lifetime of determination are required. Are you beginning to sense that this is not your typical ex-pat falls in love with San Miguel story?

This stunning glassware would be considered beautiful by any measure. Artisan made, hand blown from recycled glass and expertly engraved, this glassware has all the hallmarks of fine Mexican craft. And while this product speaks for itself in the marketplace, I will tell you the backstory.

Eighteen months in the making, the Engraved Glass Project in many ways began forty-seven years ago in Dallas, Texas when Charlie Hall was born with only partial arms, without hands, and with facial and other irregularities. Through a lifetime of overcoming physical challenges and prejudices in the workplace, Charlie knew that he would one day help others to conquer those same prejudices by providing real jobs to this often forgotten and untapped workforce that simply needed a chance rather than charity. What Charlie did not know is that his vision would become reality in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

Above: The indomitable "Lucha" Maxwell, founder of San Miguel's Centro de Crecimiento.

Upon moving to San Miguel to assume management of his family's already established import/export company, Charlie immediately connected with María de la Luz “Lucha” Martínez Maxwell, and began to envision training and utilizing local disabled workers to engrave hand blown glass. As founder of Centro de Crecimiento, Lucha Maxwell quickly introduced Charlie to key state and city officials, and soon conversations became reality and a separate training and manufacturing concern was founded (Exportadora Camino Norte), but not without considerable accommodations being made.

Special work stations were built, equipment was modified to accommodate individuals in wheel chairs, and local officials augmented these efforts with counseling, guidance, and by providing outstanding candidates for training. Today, Exportadora Camino Norte employs twenty-one individuals, nine of which are disabled. Not only does Camino Norte provide jobs to the disabled, but the time honored art of glass engraving is being preserved as part of Mexico’s craft heritage.

The future of the Engraved Glass Project is bright, and although there are challenges ahead including the ongoing search for funding for vans and modified transportation, yesterday was a day for celebration.

In an emotional ceremony organized and attended by officials from DIF de Estado Guanajuato, Secretaria de Desarrollo Económico del Estado de Guanajuato, the program Bécate, Centro de Crecimiento’s Lucha Maxwell, and Charlie's friends and family along with all the participants of the Engraved Glass Project, everyone at last had the chance to say, "Bravo. Well done!".

It is glassware that would be beautiful by any measure, but it is glassware made more beautiful knowing the skilled jobs and dignity that each glass created and sold represents.

Opportunity not charity. Now that is beautiful.

Parting thought...Mexican folk art provides employment.

PHOTOS BY DEB HALL.