Trinidad Núñez Quiñones

Trinidad Núñez Quiñones (born June 13, 1948), otherwise known simply as Trino, is an artisan, artist, researcher and teacher whose work has been recognized with numerous awards in both the city and state of Durango. He was trained as a visual artist but has since specialized in pottery and ceramic sculptures. As a teacher, he has worked as a professor at the state university, trained local indigenous people and established the ceramic workshop which bears his name at Durango city's main cultural center.

Life

Núñez was born in the small rural community of San José de Gracia in the municipality of Canatlán, Durango, to a family with Spanish and Tarahumara heritage.

However, Núñez lived in his family's country home only until he was about five years old. In 1953, another local farmer, one of the richest in the town, came to the family's house enraged at Núñez's father over a matter with horses. A violent confrontation began. To defend her husband, Núñez's mother took a rifle and shot the attacker dead. The revenge of the man's family included burning down the home and forcing the family to flee: the father to the mountains and the rest of the family to the outskirts of Durango city to start over.