Azuay’s Instrument Makers And Potters Take Center Stage At Casa de la Cultura

A new exhibit at the Galería Manos Azuayas inside the Casa de la Cultura Núcleo del Azuay is putting local craft knowledge in the foreground. Called “Legados,” the exhibit brings together artisans who build musical instruments and work in pottery.

Who is featured

The exhibit presents the work and creative processes of Oswaldo Morocho Sánchez and the Uyaguari and Encalada families. The focus is on work that has been developed and passed on across generations.

Morocho has combined music with artisan instrument-making for four decades. His early work included quenas, zampoñas, and flutes; over time, his production expanded to drums, charangos, bandolins, marimbas, whistles, and horns.

A local-material challenge

The exhibit also points to a practical challenge behind the finished pieces: traditional materials are not always easy to obtain. Morocho uses bamboo and other materials for wind instruments, including duda, a type of cane. He said drought has made duda far harder to find, leading him to obtain it from Peru, Bolivia, and Chocó in Pichincha.

Why this is worth knowing

Cuenca is unusually rich in visible heritage, but this exhibit offers a closer look at the hands and materials behind it. For residents interested in local arts, music, and craft traditions, it is a useful stop inside a familiar cultural institution.

The source did not list admission, hours, or a closing date, so check directly with Casa de la Cultura before making a special trip.