[Armadillo Oaxacan woodcarving]
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Title |
[Armadillo Oaxacan woodcarving] |
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Description |
This colorful long-nosed armadillo is an example of authentic folk art from the valley of Oaxaca in Southern Mexico, home of the Zapotec Indians. It is carved from copal wood and hand painted. Oaxaca has a wood carving tradition dating from pre-Hispanic times; Zapotecs used to carve religious totems and ceremonial masks. Although Oaxacan woodcarvings have been around for less than 60 years, they have become one of the most popular folk art styles in Mexico. The monos de madera or alebrijes as they are called in Spanish were originally created by carver Manuel Jimenez. They soon became so popular that other people from his town and other communities in Oaxaca began carving to have an extra income. In the 1940's, with the construction of the Pan-American Highway, Oaxaca opened up to tourism. The wood comes from the copal tree. Fresh-cut copal wood is soft and easily workable; it has a small heart so it does not split. It sands to a smooth porcelain-like finish and it doesn't absorb much paint. The carving is done with machetes, kitchen and pocket knives. The shape of the branch dictates what can be made. Most figures are carved within a day or two by the men in the family. Children and the elderly sand the wood until smooth, and the women paint the pieces with acrylic paints. Workers out of the family are rarely hired to avoid giving out the know-how. Motifs are dictated by demand and by the competition; which forces carvers to look for different subjects to stand out from the others. The most popular figures are animals; with the cat being the most preferred. Other subjects are angels, devils, skeletons, mermaids, saints and nativity. |
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Subject |
Armadillos--In art--Specimens.; Indian wood-carving--Mexico--Oaxaca (State)--Specimens.; Folk art--Mexico--Oaxaca (State)--Specimens.; R 785 |
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Date |
[between 2000 and 2016?] |
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Replicas and Objects of the Giertz Education Center, Krannert Art Museum
