NOVICA, in association with National Geographic, searches the world to work directly with the finest artisan designers. Modeled in ceramic and painted by hand, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus grace this candleholder. Alberto Aparicio Canchari crafts an exuberant design known as the "Tree of Life." Birds sing amid colorful flowers and an angel crowns this delightful work. Artisan Info: Alberto Aparicio Canchari was born in Ayacucho in 1965. A dedicated ceramist, he is inspired by the customs and beliefs of Andean villages. His workshop seems inhabited by half-finished creatures, waiting for him to give them the breath of life. "I've been a ceramist since I was a child, as my parents taught me the craft. Later, I tried to develop my own pieces with a personal style. My main purpose is giving life to my creations, and I've achieved this through the expressions of their faces, aiming to reflect daily attitudes, Peruvian country scenes, even protests - and I'm satisfied and content. In the workshop I work full-time with my wife. "Most of our pieces are hand-molded, as only the weight of the hand can give the right shape. We use clay and simple tools; paints and pigments are blended together to produce the required hues, like that of the skin. All are made to resist high temperatures. The process starts from when we mold the pieces, then we paint them, fire them, and at the end, just polish them. "I've participated in several fairs and exhibitions, winning first and third prize in the
