Gilberto speaks of Bahía Solano from the depths of his heart. Born amidst the breathtaking waters of the Pacific Ocean, he adamantly believes that this is his most cherished place on Earth. To him, it embodies the most stunning landscape—a harmonious blend of sea and rainforest. He fondly recalls waking up to the symphony of crashing waves and the melodic chirping of birds, a melody that tugs at his heart whenever he must depart. He finds it challenging to be away from home for more than a couple of days. Bahía Solano is where he raised his six children and learned his craft under the guidance of his parents: Miss Ana Julia, who taught him basketry, and Mr. Vicente, who imparted the art of wood carving—his current profession.

Though Gilberto assisted his mother in weaving jingurú palm fibers, akin to iraca and named so by the Embera people, until the age of twenty-five, he succumbed to societal biases that associated weaving solely with women. While he used to finalize the baskets’ details or start the weaving that Ana Julia would finish, he eventually chose to follow his father’s craft. He mastered the construction of pylons and boats for fishermen, a skill inherited from his father. The image of craftsmen skillfully hollowing out massive sangre de gallina or sande trunks, making them buoyant, always fascinated him. Sadly, upon his father’s demise, he lost his mentor. But a new mentor entered his life.

Heriberto taught Gilberto how to craft whale tails, an art that earned him recognition along Bahía Solano’s beaches. Under Heriberto’s guidance, he also learned to fashion trays and jewelry. In his company, Gilberto discovered the variety of woods indigenous to his region—the prized oquendo with its striking red grain, mare, níspero, and choibá. Although these woods had been part of his surroundings all his life, Heriberto taught him to discern their unique characteristics, noticing their density and hardness. He realized that while softwoods were easier to work with, they were prone to cracking when moved from the warm, humid climate of Bahía Solano to colder or drier environments.

Gilberto is acutely aware that his craft relies on living materials, prompting him to prioritize environmental care and conscientiously select the sources of his woods. The impact of indiscriminate and illegal logging deeply affected him, especially witnessing the significant decline of oquendo trees. Although their attempts, alongside a group of artisans, to plant oquendo seeds and reforest were unsupported locally, they persevered by planting níspero, choibá, and yellow guayacán, which he currently utilizes.

Additionally, Gilberto’s commitment to environmental stewardship extends to a new mission: aiding newly hatched turtles on Valle beaches in the Bahía Solano jurisdiction. Every year’s second half, he devotes himself to this task—assisting the newborn turtles as they make their way to the water to begin their life journey. It’s a natural spectacle he safeguards from those seeking to disrupt this vital cycle.

Presently, Gilberto focuses on carving sea animals, primarily whale tails and dolphins. He has honed the art of crafting vessels like salad bowls and trays, always keeping in mind his objective—to showcase the innate beauty of wood, a reverence he holds eternal.