Augustine explained that he uses soft wood that is still green to make to carve. He begins with a machete and uses smaller kitchen knives and awls to add fine details. After they are finished he dries them in the sun, fills in with resin, sands and paints. He began learning this tradition from his family at the age of 12. Now, the entire tradition is a family affair with his 9 year old daughter doing the sanding and his wife helping with the painting.
Praying mantis on bicycle...
Augustine demonstrating how he carves into soft wood using a standard kitchen knife while his translator looks on and translates for us
Cilau, the Huichol yarn painter explained how each of the mandala looking shapes in the center of the Huichol artworks represent portals. During the art making process he will get into a meditative trance where he feels the images and art comes to him. Now that he has become a world traveler and has participated in many art exhibitions and markets he sometimes creates his artwork while being more aware of his surroundings so he can demonstrate his technique to onlookers. He pointed out how these pieces are less detailed and vibrant than those he dose when he is able to meditate and work alone. He uses very thing yarn and uses a pointed tool or feather to push pieces into beeswax. Often you can see bees as subjects in the artwork as a sort of thanks for offering the materials.
Me holding one of Cilau's beautiful and intricate yarn paintings
Peyote Mistico (a piece done by his father Mariano)
My completed folk art memory quilt square
Christina's retablo (a love themed one focusing on her and David's relationship)
Trina's retablo from the front...
Trina's retablo from the back...hers was an homage to the folk art market and exhibiting countries/artists
My completed retablo...an art studio for Frida Kahlo
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