Los Silos Honors Women Salt Harvesters with "Salt Heritage" Sculpture

On just under a kilometer of rocky coastline in La Caleta de Interián, Los Silos, a group of local women keeps an old tradition alive. They collect sea salt from natural pools, formed by lava and the sea, and use it at home, or trade and sell it. This skill has been passed down through generations, always led by women in these families, and it continues today because of them. This knowledge, in its purest form, has been carefully handed down.

The Los Silos Town Council decided to honor these women who have spent their lives working in this 'sea agriculture.' Until now, their important work had not been officially recognized in the municipality.

For this tribute, they chose sculptor Julio Nieto. His art often surprises people and makes them feel connected, largely because his work shows how much he enjoys creating it.

As is typical of his style, Nieto took a unique approach, focusing on the idea of heritage. He designed the sculpture as a tribute to the legacy passed down through generations, ensuring this tradition wouldn't be forgotten.

So, his work was titled 'Herencia de sal' (Salt Heritage). Since yesterday, it stands on the municipality's coast, directly facing the spot where the women collect salt, mostly in the summer.

Movement, a hallmark of all his art, is clear in this sculpture. It shows a girl seemingly bursting into the scene, reaching out to the public. She offers a handful of salt, making viewers instinctively want to catch it before it spills. Her pose creates a sense of connection, an urgent feeling to grasp the salt and keep it from falling. Nieto explains, "It's a lively scene that invites you to be part of it, to gather the heritage and capture the moment in a photo."

A Long Process

Creating the sculpture was complex because it's made of bronze. This material requires a long process of modeling, casting, chiseling, and fitting all the pieces together. In this case, Nieto spent almost seven months on it.

Despite the challenges, Nieto found great joy in the creative process. To capture the true essence of the place, the sculptor went to the Los Silos coast. He took a mold of the salt-rich rocks and incorporated it into the fabric of the girl's dress. He explains, "I wanted the materials to blend together. This way, people would understand it's not just the salt worker's daughter, but the rock itself offering its mineral heart."

The sculpture's location is a perfect match. It's meant to be surrounded by the airborne salt, or 'saltpeter,' that is always present in La Caleta de Interián. This salt will slowly 'dress' the artwork.

Over time, the parts of the dress designed to look like rocks will become coated with the same salt that mothers have collected from this coast for centuries. The girl herself will appear to be filled with the very salt she is trying to save. The sculpture shows that true heritage isn't something you keep to yourself, but something you generously share and offer to future generations.