In southern Brazil, particularly on the island of Santa Catarina, with the demise of the Sambaquis Indians, the establishment of Azorean culture brought in its cultural background, habits and customs, which can be observed even today: urbanism, architecture, gastronomy, folklore, handicrafts, religiosity; and in the way of being na islander. In contrast to the effects of industrialization, still persist, even in specific locations, the remarkable form of Azorean cultural expression: in bobbin lace of Lagoa da Conceição, fishing of South Island, flour manufacturing at Costa da Lagoa, production of cachaça in alembics of the interior of the island, crafts made in small groups of people, music and folklore of some communities, myths and legends of Franklin Cascaes, the art of Eli Heil, Tercília dos Santos, Meyer Filho, Willy Zumblick, Martinho de Haro, and many others that we admire so much.
     Reminds us to the beginnings of human civilization continuous cultural expression processes, as well as the production of tools and utensils needed in front of survival depending on the environmental conditions. In this context are included the tools and objects intended for day-to-day; similarly, that a multitude of ornaments and artifacts, for purely decorative reasons or because of artistic and cultural expressions. After the ice age of the Paleolithic, in Neolithic, archaeological evidence shows that the exit of the caves led primitive man to the development resources to meet new needs; and with population growth, the unconditional social organization.
     Using what the environment gave him, Homo faber started to make use of elements of nature around him as: stone, wood, fiber, land, and later metals. Associated with other elements such as water and after fire, the process of transformation of these raw materials into new products, generally, was named as crafts. And among the various types of crafts, that were gradually emerging, in this work we will hold specifically on those that had as substrate clay.
     Having the land as a byproduct, the clay began to have an increasingly important role in developing tools, artifacts and ornaments; becoming an important type of craft, due to the natural abundance, ease of handling and ability to materialize forms. Were these forms molded by human hands, which brought to light a new form of expression of being: different people, different cultures, different forms of expression; bringing the matter of unconscious representations too.
     And based on this form of expression, for the ceramic craft developed on the island of Santa Catarina, which in 2002 I had the first major contact with a work that marked me forever. It was a fair exhibition of the 4th Fenaostra - National Party Oyster held in the hall of Centro Sul in Florianópolis, Brazil. Among the many exhibitors who brought the most varied crafts, caught my attention: the expressiveness of the characters, the quality of workmanship and the sophistication of the pieces shown by three sisters, three Marys: Maria de Lourdes Costa Richter, Maria Nazareth Costa Peixoto and Maria Elizabeth Costa Silva; who identified their group as ResgatArte. I remember to this day, that me and my two children, even pre-teens, talked about one of Bernunças, in which one pair of feet were painted using flip-flops: idea we considered very creative and original.
     The imaginary of Santa Catarina Island is formed by a rich folklore, tradition, stories, songs, legends and myths. The Boi-de-Mamão merriment with its singers and musicians, and its main characters: Ox, Goat, Knight, Bernunça and Maricota; contains Iberian roots. The various representations of the Witch of the Island, another important character of the mythical figurative probably has connections with the Celtic legendary; and many other characters-symbol, forming and contextualize the unconscious of Santa Catarina Island.
     And it was in this context of characters and centuries-old traditions that I revisited, after twelve years, the works of these three sisters: Lourdes, Nazareth and Betinha; in their studio, located at Site of Ratones in northern of Santa Catarina Island. There I found: characters of Boi-de-Mamão merriment; folklore characters such as fisherman and peddler; characters of colonizing ethnic groups: Portuguese, Indians and Africans; Namoradeiras; Lapinhas; chickens; kinds of pans of Azorean models; mobiles; and various aspects of the Azorean traditions and the Catholic religion; also including Witches of the interior od the Island: healers, faith healers and sorcerers.
     A special attention should be given to Witch Leca, a creation of the three sisters, one of representations of Witch of Santa Catarina Island real size; in this case, a comfortably old lady sitting in a chair, which has in her lap a safe and a pot with rolled pieces of paper containing tips. Those who contribute, depositing a coin in the safe receives the "Advice Witch Leca".
     Faced with so much beauty, imagination and originality, I was able to note with pride that even today, from clay that comes from the soil and the millennial art of ceramics, dedicated and delicated hands, inspired by their childhood memories and their primordial images, contribute to the preservation of the imagery of the land; this ... piece of land lost in the sea..., as well evoked by poet Zininho: Santa Catarina Island. And more than that, they preserve the ancient art of modeling forms, immortalizing them through the ceramic technique and keeping alive an ancient culture of Santa Catarina State.
     This photo-documentary work is dedicated to sisters and artisans: Mrs. Maria de Lourdes Costa Richter (in memoriam) and Mrs. Maria Nazareth Costa Peixoto (in memoriam).

Special thanks:
- To Mrs. Maria Elizabeth Costa Silva, for her participation in this work, in loco during the capture of images at Site of Ratones, as well as for having carried out the description of each one of the selected images. It was important her participation to the rescue information, as for allowing the realization of this exhibition.
- To Mr. Flávio Tito Peixoto owner of the Site of Ratones where the images were made.
- To Mrs. Iara Peixoto at Casa de Maria Decor store, Lauro Linhares Street, No. 624, 1st store, Trindade, Florianópolis, SC. Site: www.casademariadecor.com.br. Phone: +55 (48) 3206-5385.
- Ao Sr. Janga, à Sra. Semia e ao Sr. Rodrigo da Casa Açoriana, rua Cônego Serpa, 30, Santo Antônio de Lisboa, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. Site: www.casaacoriana.com.br. Fone: (48) 3235-1262
- To Mr. Janga, Mrs. Semia and Mr. Rodrigo of Casa Açorianastore, Cônego Serpa street, No. 30, Santo Antônio de Lisboa, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. Site: www.casaacoriana.com.br. Phone: +55 (48) 3235-1262.
- To the psychologist Ana Cláudia Judice Alleotti.

Information about the work of the three Marys, contact Mrs. Maria Elizabeth Costa Silva, maelcs@gmail.com